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
10,439 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 1,185,528 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.
Register NowRECENT MEMBERS IN Ontario
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Tricia1980
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A Few of Our Members Currently Searching Within Ontario Who Chose To Be Featured
76. Angiezolk : My father was adopted from toronto childrens aid society and have a ukranian/aboriginal ethnicity. i wish to find his parents and other relatives. they may still live in or around Toronto‚ ont.
77. RWeber : I want to find my birth family primarily for medical records but for relationship as well if they want.
78. DawnMB : My birth Mother’s name was Agnes Valentina Blasko, she was born in Hungary in 1946. Agnes was 19 at the time of my birth and lived at 90 Stinson Street, Hamilton Ontario Canada during her pregnancy. I was born on December 18th, 1965 at Henderson General Hospital in Hamilton and my birth name was Dawn Marie Blasko.
79. Cdaws1701 : Etobicoke general hospital, July 13 1979
80. PCFILLION : Looking to find my dad’s birth parents. My dad passed away in 2010 but before he passed away was searching for his birth parents. He didn’t find them before passing so i’m continuing his search! My dad was born May 16 1949 in Palmerston ontario. He said that his mom was a young farm girl. His adoptive parents were George and Ethel Davies, his dad was an artilleryman. His adoption was done through guelph and wellington county cas. His adoptive parents died and he went to live with an aunt and uncle.
81. KOsborne : I was born at Toronto Western Hospital on July 22‚ 1972. I was born to woman by the name of Agatha Martha Ogilvie. She lived in Toronto. I believe she attended George Brown College and I believe currently she is a PSW. My biological father is originally from Trinidad and his name is Neville Roberts. It is believed that he went back to Trinidad after I was born.
82. Nanner65 : I was born Feb. 7th 1965 in Hamilton Ontario Canada. wentworth county. My given name was Karen Lynn Jardine. I know my birth mother was very young at time of my birth. I was adopted thru Children’s Aide Society in Toronto after living with a foster mother for several months. I was renamed Nancy J. Holland and we moved to the states when I was about 5yr’s old. Raised in Memphis‚ TN and married‚ last name Schooling. Then divorced and remarried last name as it is now Reine. I lived in several states over the yr’s now in Baton rouge‚ LA. I am looking for answer’s and possibly a relationship‚ but greatly in need of medical info. I have a rare disease. I have 2 daughter’s and just found out I am going to be a grandma. So the medical history is needed. I know there is someone in the Toronto area that knows of my birth. Please speak up and help me..
83. Trek420 : I think I was born at Toronto Western on the 29th I know I was originally from Madoc Ontario
84. Drumstix : Looking for family medical history as I have children. Thank you.
85. Mikaylawright : Hey so my name is mikayla and im 17 years old. While growing up ive always wanted to know who my parents are. you named me Patricia. So yeah.
86. Topolinsky : Linda is the the daughter of John Balint Lena Topolinsky. (Balint) Born oct 27 1944 Adopted at about 8 months old
87. Elaieslyne : My son was adopted in March or April in Toronto. He was adopted to a family thart already had an adopted girl. This was their second adopted through CSA.
88. Doree : born in Chatham, Ont. last name Meloche
89. Shovelhead : The doctors name is Dr. Palmer, and I was told that he had found the people who adopted my son. He was born at Brampton Ont., again I’m told at the hospital there. The mother was M. Pollet.
90. Doree : born in Chatham, Ont. I believe the last name is Meloche
