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.
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10,373 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 1,189,520 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
706. Kyeguy123 : I want to find my dad
707. Cassmat : Born in Ottawa Ontario, adopted by a family from Kingston Ontario. Rumor has it that birth mother also resided in Kingston, but sent to Ottawa to give birth!
708. Ed9747 : My C.A.S. workers name was KimCain when I was adopted the family lawyers name was Joan McDonald. My name is Elijah.
709. Sue338 : Guelph general hospital Guelph Ontario Children’s Aid
710. Darlanna5 : Hello my name is Darlene Dunlop I am in search for my brother whom was adopted . his birth name was Craig Allan Huggins born on July 25 1956 adopted mother changed his name to mark Edward he was born at Welland county hospital in Ontario Canada if there is anything you can do to help be find my brother it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Darlene Dunlop.
711. Rbark : my last name at birth was AHO
712. Sunshine67 : Born in Oshawa Ontaro
713. J0yce : Susan Joy McFadden was born on June 05,1965 in the Hotel Dieu Hospital in St. Catherines Ontario The adoption agency did not tell me that I had 6 months to change my mind and two women from the adoption agency brow-beated me into signing the release papers. She was at a home in Thorold and adopted at 6 months old to a Protestant family. The mother was an Irish Protestant hair-dresser and the father was a French Protestant Civil Servant. Both were 45 years old. Two years later they adopted another girlwho is 3 yrs. younger than Susan. Susan’s name was changed to Sherri Lynn Vallee. Her file # is A-002102-66. her birth certificate # is 65-05-095850
714. Soupy107 : Cameron james colling Henderson hospital hamilton
715. Beautycutie87 : Windsor, On Birth Name: Krystle adopted name: Karly Patricia
716. Fmullins : I believe this person was born between 1969 and early 80’s. Birth father’s name was Philip Bailie. I believe this person was adopted by a stepfather and may have been living in the Etobicoke, Ontario area at the time. I have no other information
717. Vlgreen93 : Born in Fort Francis, Ontario Adopted parents are Carol E Green (nee Kick) and Gene Green Name given to Adoptee at birth was Dale Name of Adoptee was changed at adoption to Gene Dale Green
718. Dennyr : Birth mother’s name is Agnes Bathgate Ward. Her birth date is July 11 1935. She was born in Leith Scotland and came to Canada in 1957. She lived in Hamilton Ontario until November 1959. Last known address was MacNab Street North. Gave birth at St Joseph’s hospital in Hamilton. Birth father was German and 23 in 1959 and was not listed on birth certificate. Adoption was through the Hamilton Children’s Aid Society and finalized in Nov 1959. All the Ward family is from Leith Scotland.
719. Dennyr : Born at St Joseph’s hospital Hamilton Ontario. Birth mother name is Agnes Bathgate Ward born July 11 1935 in Leith Scotland. Adopted through the Hamilton Children’s Aid Society
720. Mariellen6 : I believe that my adoption was done through the Catholic Children’s Aid Society in Toronto. I was told by my adoptive mother that my birth mother had named me Catherine and I think the last name was McIntyre My birthplace is East York according to my Ontario birth certificate
