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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10,986 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 1,205,521 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
1411. AnastasiaM0200 : He was born in Brampton at Peel Memorial Hospital with the first name Robert. His birth Father’s name is Kevin.
1412. Nyx523 : Born in Burlington, ON Joseph Brant Hospital
1413. AnnaP67 : We are searching on behalf of my sister who is the birth mother and my sister. Her son was named Ryan Colarusso at birth and his adopted name we know is Stephan Ryan Grenier we know he was adopted in the Cochran’s Ontario courts but was born in Toronto Ontario
1414. BDuffin : I born at St. Joseph hospital in London Ontario on April 7, 1965. Looking for any bio relations.
1415. AliceKetchum : I am searching on behalf of my father Peter Ketchum,
1416. Smschlot : London, Ontario Middlesex CAS Birth name: Sherry Lynn
1417. Karen123Cynthia : My birth Mothers name was Linda Smith she was 21-22years old when she gave birth to me. My given name by her was Cynthia Smith My birth father was not allowed to see her. Her family kept her hidden away in the house. She had one brother Gord Smith and he’s married to Anne. I’m looking for a step brother on my biological fathers side. Linda and her family lived in Toronto I think East York, then she moved to Markham. She has since passed. I believe my biological father may have passed as well but my step brother is looking for me. I believe my biological mother and father met at a dance.
1418. Awesmar : Birth name: Myrna Kelly Brown (or Nelson) Adopted in Toronto Ontario through Catholic Children’s aid. Birth mothers name was Theresa Brown or Nelson. She had 3 other biological daughters including a set of female twins. No father listed on birth certificate
1419. Sarahdm : Birth Mothers name: Terri Lee Davis Hospital Born at: Toronto East General, Ontario,Canada. Was adopted on January 18th 1984. Adoptive father was 35 years old. Mother was 30. He was christened April 8th 1984. The adoption was through a private agency.
1420. Kevin59 : I have recently located my birth mother’s family, I am trying to find out who my birth father is. My birth mother died in 2009 so asking her is not an option. My birth father was from Germany and lived in the Peterborough area in the late 1950s. He likely returned to Germany in 1959. He was employed in either electronics or television repair.
1421. Katt5658 : looking for Debbie L Ryan, maiden name...I think she lives in Toronto...I think she was born in 1954 in the Sudbury area..i was born in the Bracebridge hospital in 1956 july 2nd...I know my brothers, Andrew Ryan and Timothy Ryan of Ryan Law in Toronto...ive notmet them but I know who and where they are...ive been told I was the daughter of John Ryan and Marguerite Lingard...Ryans are in the north...my birth fathers sisters name is Thelma Hood/Grove, deceaced...Wendy Ryan Ward is dead as well...I don’t know if Debbie is married, my birth mother lives in north York on Jane street Toronto
1422. 3365 : I am the spouse of the person searching for his birth brother. We are looking for a male born March 1965 in a hospital in Scarborough Ontario Canada. The mother stayed at the Salvation Army home in Scarborough during her pregnancy.
1423. Niceguy : Hi my name is shawn jones i was born on 12/19/1972 and my birth dad last time i hurd lived in hamilton and his name is jhon gavin
1424. BrianDouglasleitch : Brian Douglas leitch st micheals hospital
1425. Emmyschw : I am looking for my father’s birth family. As far Z I know he was born in Hagersville Ontario and his name given at birth was Bryan.
