Starting Your Search
If you’re beginning a search related to adoption, you’re not alone. Important legislative changes in Ontario have made access to information more possible than ever before.
In November 2005, the Ontario government passed Bill 183, which was later amended in 2008. These changes, known as the Access to Adoption Records Act 2008, came into effect on June 1, 2009. They significantly improved access to adoption-related records.
Since this legislation took effect:
- Adult adoptees (18+) can request a copy of their original birth certificate. It includes the names of their natural parents at the time of adoption.
- Natural parents of adoptees aged 19 or older can request both the original and amended birth certificates.
- Adoptees and natural parents can file a contact preference, a contact veto, or apply to have their personal information withheld.
These changes mean that many adopted adults and natural parents can now legally learn each other’s names. This makes searches easier and more direct than in the past.
Terminology Note
ASK uses the terms natural parents, original parents and first parents to describe individuals who placed children for adoption. These individuals may also be referred to as birth parents or biological parents in other resources.
Need help getting started? Contact us for guidance and support—we’re here to walk with you through every step of your journey.
| Resource | Description | Who Can Apply | Where to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Birth Certificate (OBC) | The original birth certificate completed by the natural mother at the time of birth. It includes the adoptee’s name at birth and the name of the natural mother. Sometimes it also includes the name of the natural father. | ~ Adult adoptees (18+) ~ Natural parents (of adoptees 19+) named on the OBC | Ontario.ca |
| Amended Birth Certificate (ABC) | The birth certificate issued after adoption, completed by the adoptive parents. The version available to natural parents shows the adoptee’s name after adoption. Adoptive parents’ names are redacted. | Natural parents (of adoptees 19+) named on the OBC | Ontario.ca |
| Non-Identifying Information | Information compiled from the adoption file by a Children’s Aid Society (CAS) or private licensee. It may include a summary by a social worker or copies of original documents with identifying details removed. It does not include names or contact information. | ~ Adult adoptees ~ Natural parents ~ Birth grandparents ~ Adult birth siblings ~ Adult siblings of natural parents ~ Adult children of deceased adoptees ~ Adoptive parents | If handled by a CAS, apply directly to that CAS If handled by a licensee, apply via Ontario.ca |
| Adoption Disclosure Register | A voluntary registry where eligible individuals can add their names. If a match is found, the Ontario government facilitates the exchange of contact information. | ~ Adult adoptees ~ Natural parents ~ Birth grandparents ~ Birth siblings | Ontario.ca |
| Contact Preference Form | Allows adoptees and natural parents to state how they would like to be contacted and to provide up-to-date contact details. | ~ Adult adoptees ~ Natural parents named on the OBC | Ontario.ca |
| Severe Medical Search | In cases of serious physical or mental illness, a medical search can be requested to obtain critical health history. A healthcare professional must provide supporting documentation. | ~ Adoptive parents of minor adoptees ~ Adult adoptees and their descendants ~ Birth relatives | Ontario.ca |
Adoptions in Ontario: What You Need to Know
In Ontario, adoption records are kept from several sources, and the information available to you depends on a few key factors:
- Whether you or the adopted person were born in Ontario or elsewhere
- Your connection to the adoption (e.g., adoptee, first parent, adoptive relative)
- Your relationship to the adopted person
- The agency or organization that handled the adoption
- The type of information you are seeking (e.g., identifying, non-identifying, medical)
Understanding these factors can help guide your next steps. Contact Ontario.ca if you need help navigating the process.
Born in Ontario
If a child is born in Ontario, an official birth registration is created. This document records important details about the birth and becomes the legal record.
When a child born in Ontario is adopted—either within the province or elsewhere—an adoption is also registered. In most cases, the original birth registration is replaced with a substituted (amended) birth registration
Comparison: Original vs. Amended Birth Registration (Ontario)
| Information | Original Birth Registration | Amended (Substituted) Birth Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Child’s Name | Name given at birth by natural parents | Name given after adoption (chosen by adoptive parents) |
| Parents Listed | Natural (birth) mother; sometimes natural father | Adoptive parents only |
| Date of Birth | ✔️ Included | ✔️ Included |
| Place of Birth (City/Town) | ✔️ Included | ✔️ Included |
| Location of Birth (e.g., Hospital) | ✔️ Included | ✔️ Included |
| Delivering Doctor/Midwife | ✔️ Included | ✔️ Included |
| Legal Status | Retained on file, but replaced by amended version for official purposes | Becomes the legal birth record post-adoption |
| Who Can Access It | Adult adoptees (18+) and natural parents (of adoptees 19+) with proper application | Provided to adoptive parents after adoption is finalized |
What You Can Request: Identifying vs. Non-Identifying Information
| Identifying Information | Non-Identifying Information |
|---|---|
| What it is: Reveals the identities of individuals involved in an adoption. | What it is: Does not reveal identities, but provides background and contextual details. |
| May include: ~ Adopted person’s name (at birth or after adoption) ~ Date of birth ~ Place of birth (e.g., town/city) ~ Location of birth (e.g., hospital) ~ Names of birth parents ~ Names of adoptive parents ~ Name of the doctor or midwife who delivered the baby | May include: ~ Date of adoption ~ Name of the agency that handled the adoption ~ Type of care received before adoption ~ Social or medical history of the birth family |
| Where it’s found: ~ Original birth registration ~ Substituted (amended) birth registration ~ Adoption order (court document) | Where it’s found: ~ Files from caseworkers or social workers ~ Adoption order ~ Other court documents filed during finalization |
| Who can request it: ~ Adopted persons (18+) ~ Birth parents (if the adoptee is 19+ and born in Ontario) | Who can request it: ~ Adopted persons (18+) ~ Adopted persons under 18 (with adoptive parent’s consent) ~ Adoptive parents ~ Birth parents ~ Birth grandparents ~ Birth siblings ~ Child of a deceased adopted person ~ Sibling of a birth parent |
| If the birth was outside Ontario: ~ Contact the relevant province, territory or country for original birth records ~ You can still apply for your adoption order if the adoption was finalized in Ontario and join Ontario’s Adoption Disclosure Register | If the birth was outside Ontario: ~ Non-identifying info may still be available if the adoption was finalized in Ontario |
Application to Be Named on the Adoption Disclosure Register
& Privacy and Contact Preferences
If you’re an adopted person, you can apply to be listed on Ontario’s Adoption Disclosure Register (ADR). Birth parents and certain original relatives can also apply. This voluntary registry allows for a potential match if a relative has also applied.
You can choose how much contact you’re open to and how your personal information is shared. The chart below lists the privacy and contact preferences for the Adoption Disclosure Register.
Privacy & Contact Preferences in Ontario Adoption Records
| Disclosure Veto | No Contact Notice | Contact Preference Notice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Blocks the release of your identifying information | Allows release of identifying info, but prohibits contact | Allows release of identifying info and states your preferred method of contact |
| Who Can File | Adopted adults and birth parents (only if the adoption took place before Sept. 1, 2008) | Adopted adults and birth parents | Adopted adults and birth parents |
| What You Can Include | ~ Reason for veto ~ Medical and family history (optional) | ~ Reason for no contact ~ Medical and family history (optional) | ~ Contact method preference (e.g., email, phone, through a third party) |
| Is Identifying Info Released? | No — identifying info is withheld | Yes — but only if the recipient agrees not to contact you | Yes — with your preferred contact method noted |
| Is Contact Allowed? | No | No — unless the other party signs an agreement not to contact you | Yes — but your preference is not legally binding |
| Legal Enforcement | Not needed — info is blocked | Yes — up to $50,000 fine if the contact agreement is violated | No — this is a suggestion, not a legal requirement |
| Important Notes | May not be available if information was already disclosed before you filed the veto | Only valid if the other party agrees not to contact you | Contact preferences are not enforceable by law |
| Outside Ontario? | Check with the province, territory or country where the adoption or birth occurred for their rules | Same as left | Same as left |
Born outside Ontario
Ontario does not have birth registration information for children who are not born in Ontario. See below for links to other Provincial and Territorial information.
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