If you were adopted in Ontario — or if your child was placed for adoption — you can receive information from your birth and adoption records through ServiceOntario.
In the past this information was not 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.
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 may include 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.
Adopted adults and birth parents also have the option to protect the privacy of their post-adoption birth information. Adopted adults and birth parents can:
Adopted persons, descendants of an adopted person, birth parents, adoptive parents and members of the birth family may also be eligible for other information and services, like:
Learn more Five-Year Review of the Operation of Adoption Information Disclosure Provisions in Ontario, 2014 About Ontario's adoption information disclosure law: Access to Adoption Records Act, 2008 How to request information about an adoption you were involved in. |