Searching for Adoption Information in Ontario

If you were involved in an Ontario adoption, you can search for different types of adoption information.

1. Ontario's adoption information disclosure law allows adopted adults and birth parents to get information from birth and adoption records.

2. Adopted adults, birth parents, adoptive parents and birth relatives can search for other types of adoption information and services. This includes:

To find out what kind of information you can search for, choose one of the following:

1. I am an adopted person (I was adopted)  

   • Apply for post-adoption birth information to get information from your birth and adoption records
   • File a disclosure veto to protect your privacy
   • File a no contact notice or notice of contact preference
   • Apply for non-identifying information
   • Apply for a severe medical search
   • Place your name on the Adoption Disclosure Register
   • Get a copy of your adoption order
2. I am a birth parent (My child was adopted)
   • Apply for post-adoption birth information to get more information from birth and adoption records
   • File a disclosure veto to protect your privacy
   • File a no contact notice or notice of contact preference
   • Apply for non-identifying information
   • Apply for a severe medical search
   • Place your name on the Adoption Disclosure Register

3. I am an adoptive parent (I adopted a child)

   • Apply for non-identifying information
   • Apply for a severe medical search
   • Apply for a copy of your child’s adoption order

4. I am a birth relative (I am related to an adopted person through birth)

   • Apply for non-identifying information
   • Apply for a severe medical search
   • Place your name on the Adoption Disclosure Register

You can also check Frequently Asked Questions for answers to many adoption records questions.

Adoption Information Disclosure

Adoption disclosure opens up more information in adoption records to adopted adults and birth parents.

Originally, none of the information in adoption records was available. But in May 2008, the Ontario legislature passed a new adoption information disclosure law called the Access to Adoption Records Act, 2008.

This new law gives adopted adults and birth parents more rights to information and privacy.

New: Getting Information

Starting June 1st 2009, adopted adults and birth parents can apply for information from birth and adoption records, if the adoption was registered in Ontario.

This information is called post-adoption birth information. It includes identifying information, like the original name of an adopted adult or the name of a birth parent.

With post-adoption birth information, adopted adults may be able to find out what their original names were, as well as the names of their birth parents. Birth parents may learn the name their child was given after he or she was adopted.

Protecting your privacy

Adopted adults and birth parents have the option to protect the privacy of their post-adoption birth information.

Adopted adults and birth parents can file a disclosure veto to protect their privacy if the adoption was finalized before September 1, 2008. The veto will prevent identifying post-adoption birth information about the person who filed the veto from being released.

Instead of a disclosure veto, adopted adults and birth parents can file a no contact notice if they do not want to be contacted, but are willing to have their identifying information released.

They can also file a notice of contact preference to specify how they would like to be contacted if they do not want to file a no contact notice or a disclosure veto.

Regulations also provide access to adoption information disclosure services where an adopted person has been adopted more than once.