Ontario Adoption Records
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Accessing Adoption Records in Ontario
In 2008, Ontario opened adoption records to allow adoptees and birth parents access to personal and family information. The province keeps records for all adopted children born in Ontario, even if the adoption was handled elsewhere.
While Ontario adoption records are open, the steps you need to complete to access the information you want can be overwhelming. Lengthy processing times may delay your search, and some information isn’t available to biological siblings, grandparents, or other relatives.
If you’re having trouble getting adoption records in Ontario, Adopted.com is here to help. Our voluntary reunion registry allows anyone impacted by an adoption to register and search for their family members. Reunions happen through mutual consent, whether you have official records or not.
To begin your search, you just need to fill out a simple form with ten questions you likely know about your adoption. If there’s a potential match on the platform, you’ll be notified right away.
We have the largest voluntary adoption registry in the world, with people searching for family members in Toronto, Ottawa, and across the entire province. Register today to take the first step toward a potential reunion.
Register Now Directory
10,989 Are Adoption Records Public in Ontario?
Yes, Ontario passed a law in 2008 to open adoption records, including birth registrations and adoption orders. Under this law, adoptees and birth parents can access information from sealed adoption records. The information includes an adoptee’s original name and their birth parents’ names. Birth parents can learn the name the child was given after the adoption.
By request, the Ontario government will release this information, as long as the adoptee or birth parent has not filed a disclosure veto to protect their privacy.
How to Find Adoption Records in Ontario
There are different steps to find adoption records in Ontario, depending on your involvement in the adoption and the information you want to access. You can request both identifying and non-identifying information through ServiceOntario.
Non-identifying information refers to details that don’t reveal the names or contact information of anyone involved in the adoption. This information can include the adoption date, the adoption agency, and the birth family’s medical history.
You can request non-identifying information in Ontario if you’re:
- An adoptee who’s at least 18 years old
- An adoptee under 18 with your adoptive parent’s consent
- An adoptive parent
- A biological parent, grandparent, or sibling of the adoptee
- A child of a deceased adoptee
- A birth parent’s sibling
You may also have access to identifying information from an original birth registration or an adoption order. This information can show you the identities of people involved in the adoption. It may include the adoptee’s name at birth or after adoption, the birth parents’ names, and the adoptive parents’ names.
You may be able to access this information if you’re:
- An adoptee who’s at least 18 years old
- A birth parent if the adoptee is at least 19 years old
There’s no fee to access adoption records in Ontario. You just need to complete the correct form and mail it to the address listed. You can’t fax, email, or deliver an application in person.
How Can I Find a Biological Parent in Ontario?
If you’re an adoptee, you can find your biological parents’ names by requesting post-adoption information through ServiceOntario. However, if one or both of your birth parents have asked to keep their identities private, you will not receive this information.
Birth parents can also agree to release information but ask not to be contacted. If your biological parent has completed a no-contact notice and you attempt to contact them anyway, you can be fined up to $50,000.
How Can I Find Someone Who Was Adopted in Ontario?
You can only request an adoptee’s identifying information if you’re the biological parent. The adoptee must also be at least 19 years old before you can search for them. This rule gives an adoptee one year after they turn 18 to file their privacy and contact preferences.
Just like birth parents, an adoptee has the right to keep their identity private or ask not to be contacted by their biological family. If the adoptee has a no-contact notice on file and you contact them anyway, you can be fined up to $50,000.
Other biological relatives, including grandparents and siblings, can’t access identifying information from adoption records, but they can join the Adoption Disclosure Register. If you register, you’ll be notified if or when a match occurs.
Let Adopted.com help you find your lost family today!
Adopted.com is a powerful adoption reunion registry designed to help you reconnect with your birth parents. By registering, you gain access to a growing database of over 1,204,960 profiles, increasing your chances of finding your biological relatives. The platform respects your privacy and allows you to update your profile anytime.
Registration is free, and the unique search tool ensures measurable match results. When you find your birth parents, remember to approach the reunion with an open heart and understanding, as it can be an emotionally significant experience for everyone involved.
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
5101. SPski : Born in Toronto Western
5102. Chloe132323 : Apprehend in London Victoria hospital Dr butchy is current Dr the names iof adopted is Chloe dawe Nevaeh dawe Annabell dawe Woodstock cas are the ones that took them they were adopted to Heidi Hayden Phillips from city of Woodstock
5103. Elizdyck_ranch6 : The place was Port Arthur/Fort William‚ now Thunder Bay‚ Ont. The young lady was 19 and the boy was adopted by a husband/wife from Thunder Bay and one was.a doctor
5104. Poppydog23 : Hello I was a Roman Catholic adoption so very hush hush. I was born on December 7 ‚ 1968 and was born at Scarborough General Hospital. My biological mother’s name was Joanne SquirrsBeriauly and she gave me my birth name as Tara Lee Beriault. I know I have a stepbrother Justin‚ sister in law Michelle and a nephew Ryan. I also know I have an Aunt Marie I. Victoria Harbour and an uncle Ron in Waubaushe. I have came through the horrible loss of losing my adoptive father cause he was my world. So I’m hoping to find my birth father who was dating a Joanne when was 15 in the year of 1968. I would really love to meet you from the bottom of my heart 💕
5105. Helping2search4u : Hello‚ I am looking for Lise Prevost‚ she gave birth 24-26 years ago in hamilton Ontario on March 11th to a baby girl.
5106. AmyMcNamara : Born as kailey in Toronto
5107. LisaDrouillard : Was born in Windsor ON. I have a scar that is likely from a forcep birth. May have been given name "Olive". Looking for birth mother.
5108. Ferguson8175 : Looking for my son his original name was Robert William Ferguson. He was both at Brantford General hospital in Brantford Ontario Canada
5109. McIlroy1965 : Looking for a brother born James McIlroy‚ you have 5 sisters and 1 brother - Born at North York General Hospital. Lived near the old Toronto Zoo. You were put in a foster home with your younger sister‚ after 16 months you were separated. Biological parents are from Scotland‚ two oldest siblings also born in Scotland.
5110. Samturner : Ottawa‚ Ontario General hospital Birth name was chantal Grandmother is in a wheelchair on mother’s side
5111. Giovanna1429 : Roula Mansour‚ Ranya Mansour‚ Mississauga‚ Ontario Canada
5112. Coxysalmost60 : Hi My name is Sean Edward Cox that’s my adopted name. My Name from my birth mother was Chris Perry. From what i understand she was pregnant out of wedlock and was only 16‚ her and her mother traveled from Nova Scotia to Barrie Ontario and stayed for the full term of her pregnancy‚ She gave birth to me in Barrie Ontario and I was adopted 3 weeks later. My birth mother always let me know that I was adopted.
5113. Macintyreannette : Telina MacIntyre was my mother. She never told me who my dad was. She said the last time she saw my dad was the day I was born. He was 21 in 1971‚ charged with abducting a minor and did a year in jail. He lived in Georgetown or Acton Ontario.
5114. Kim24 : Born at Toronto General Hospital‚ adopted from childrens aid
5115. Kiki45 : My Dad Lindsay George Benner (name after adoption)‚ who was born in Welland ‚ Ontario and was adopted shortly after birth. I am trying to find information on his birth parents .
