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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10,989 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 1,204,964 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
871. Djohannsen1982 : Looking for my birth mother, Deborah McLellan and birth father, John Makin. Both born in 1960.
872. Davis1919 : I don’t have much to go on. Margaret Fern Davis born 1919 in Alameda Saskatchewan ’went away for an extended time’ according to family. They believe she had a baby. The year would be somewhere between 1940 and 1944. update: According to the newspaper and a diary, she was married to Micky Bain in Windsor Ontario United Church 2 August 1940. (no marriage certificate) Prior to this she was in the Ambulance Corps in Winnipeg. I’ve done DNA of her brothers on Ancestry and GedMatch. That’s about all I have to go on. Please contact me, kind regards Janice Davis.
873. SusanoliveEndicott : North York hospital toronto, Ontario. Dr Adams Choosen One adoption agency Christen Christian John Endicott was the name of my child given at birth. HE WAS ADOPTED BY A COUPLE IN THE in the greater toronto area.
874. Angelinagrace : Looking for my youngest brother born Steven Michael Andre Wickman born Oct 27, 1994 in Toronto Ontario Birthmother: Deborah Wickman
875. May30th1970 : Well what I do know is that l was born in the township of ,,,Vaughan,, in the county of ,,York,, in the province of Ontario on the30th day of May ,,1970 as it appears on the birth registration No# 70-05-056067 issued by the province of Ontario from William George Mann of the township of Whitchurch in the Regional of municipality of York It is ordered : #1 That LYLE,,ERNEST ,, H,????????? 70-05-056067 be hereby adopted as the child of Bill and Dorothy Mann #2 That the name of the child shall be GEOFFREY NEIL MANN
876. Clarembk : My name was originally Frank Fry and changed to Todd Walter Kitchen by adoptive parents. The adoption took place at catholic children’s aid society in Toronto, ON. My biological father was 23 and my mother was 22 in 1966. My father was a mechanic from Germany but born in Hungary in 1944. He had 2 brothers 3 sisters, and his father owned a trucking company in Germany. All his family members were in Germany as of 1966. My mother had no siblings, was born in British Columbia in 1943. Her ethnic origin is English and Ukrainian. She was also in the clerical field. Both my parents were Roman Catholics and inspired to stay in British Colombia. This is the info given on my adoption papers. I have a bit more info if needed!
877. Aruyter : I am looking for my birth father. My name at birth was Lauren Ashley Noonan. I was born to Leslie Noonan on October 15th, 1989 at Soldier’s Memorial Hospital in Orillia. My birth mom, Leslie, was 16 at the time of my birth. My birth father’s name is Stephen (Steven?) James Wilson. Both he and my birth mom attended Collingwood Collegiate Institute. He would have been 16 at the time I was born. Shortly after he found out that my birth mom was pregnant he moved out west. He has one sister. I have known my birth mom since I was 18 - we see and speak to each other frequently - but I would like to at least try to reach out to my birth father.
878. Nic1987 : Hello, I’m looking to find my mother’s biological parents.
879. Cameron021193 : I am looking for my biological mother and father. I also am looking for my biological older brother Michael. I was born Ronald Harding on Thursday February 11th, 1993. In Toronto, Ontario. I have a biological younger brother David.
880. Petrospsarris1 : i have all ways wanted to now who my real mom and dad is
881. MzzJenna : -Born in Collingwood, ON -Collingwood General And Marine Hospital -Birth Mother Jenna penny D.O.B August 3, 2007 Place of Adoption Woodstock, ON Adopted around 2009-2010 ish His Birth name Isaiah Johnathan Donald Jeffery Penny Oxford County childrens Aid Society is who adopted him out I believe his location is within the Oxford County area possible city of Woodstock
882. Mikeb52 : I was adopted in 67, have discovered my biological fathers side but have no information beyond the name Edeltraud Roth for my mother.
883. Sheana42 : searching for Granddaughter would love to see how you are doing born at Soldiers Memorial hospital Orillia Ontario adopted day of birth Adoption was private name at birth was Janice Puetz or Brooks
884. JMS2424 : Toronto General Hospital
885. Curious1963 : just curious
