Searching in Ontario

ADULT ADOPTEES  who are 18 years of age or older are entitled to:

• receive a copy of their original birth registration showing their birth mother’s name and address at the time of the birth.
• receive a copy of their Adoption Order showing the change to their new name.
• This information is only available about birth parents who signed the original birth registration form, so many birth father names are not included on the document.

1.  Application form for original birth registration.
2. Guide for completing the application form for identifying information.

What information is available to Birth Parents or Other Birth relatives?

BIRTHPARENTS of adoptees 19 years of age or older are entitled to:

• receive the new or amended name of their child at the time of the adoption.
• receive a copy of the Adoption Order showing their child’s new name, but all third party information is removed – such as is the names of the adoptive parents.
• This information is usually only available to birth mothers. Those birth fathers who did not sign the birth registration form are not permitted to have access to the amended name of their child.
• No other birth relatives may apply. So if the birth parents are deceased, siblings may not have identifying information. 

1. Application form for post adoption information.
2. Guide for completing the post adoption birth information form.

The Custodian of Adoption Information will provide the following services:

• Accept applications for immediate searches when the health need is urgent. The Custodian will decide whether the need is ‘urgent’.
• Provide a Passive Registry for adoptees, birth parents, birth grandparents and siblings.

How do I register with the Adoption Register?

This is a passive registry, that is they will not search for anyone but if there is a match both parties will be given the other’s identifying information.  Forms to register are available at:  www.ontario.ca/government/search-adoption-records  or  call 1-800-461-2156 (press ‘1’ for English, then ‘5’ for Adoption Disclosure Information).  There is a great deal of information given so listen carefully.

What is a Disclosure Veto under the provision of Bill 12?

Adoptees and birth parents may register a Disclosure Veto barring identifying information from being given to the other party. Check with the Adoption Custodian for more information.

What is a Contact Preference?

A Contact preference allows you to choose the manner in which you may be contacted by the other party.

Is non-identifying information and family history still available from the CAS involved?

This information should still be available from the agency that handled the adoption. Most CAS s provide the information in a “redacted” form.  That means you will receive a copy of the actual file with all third party names and information removed.  Wait times vary, but are mostly very long.

My adoption was private (such as through a doctor or lawyer) what should I do?

Non-identifying information for adoptees and birth parents in a private adoption ‘may’ be available from the Office of the Custodian of Adoption.  Call Service Ontario at 1-800-461-2156 for more information

ADDITIONAL ONTARIO SEARCHING AIDS

• Find a Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records
• Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid
• Obituary Daily Times
• Adoption Support Kinship – a Support Group in Toronto

April 18, 2024