Access to Adoption Records

It is official! Ontario's Bill 12: "Access to Adoption Records Act" (AARA) is now in effect as of June 1, 2009. Adult adoptees and Birthparents can access identifying information about each other as long as there are no vetoes on file.
Forms are available at Service Ontario or call 416-325-8305.

Adult adoptees who are 18 years of age or older can download the following form and guide, complete the form and submit to the Office of the Registrar General in order to obtain their original birth registration.
1- Application form for identifying information.
2- Guide for completing the application form for identifying information.

Birthparents can download the following form and guide to request the new adoptive name of the child they relinquished for adoption. The adoptee must be 19 years of age and older!
3- Application form for post adoption information.
4- Guide for completing the post adoption birth information form.

The government no longer does searches but will maintain a passive registry; .

Effective September 1, 2008, adoptees and birth parents may register a Disclosure Veto barring all identifying information being released to the other party. Check with the Adoption Custodian for more information at 1-416-327-4730 . View Act for more details (see here).

General Information Meetings

Next Meeting: Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 7:00 pm - Public information meeting - All welcome!
Where: New Location: The Bronson Centre at 211 Bronson Avenue ( North of Somerset between Lisgar and Nepean). OC Transpo bus #85 stops at the front door.
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Who: Members, guests and the public welcome (free)
What: General adoption information and reunion stories, opportunity to meet other adoptees, birth relatives, adoptive parents and fostered adult

Newsletter and Archives

Current Issues
May 2009

Archives
January 2009

October 2008

May 2008

Books on Adoption

For a list of current books on Adoption search and reunion, view B&M Books - pamphlet.
B&M Books - Pamphlet.
To order, download the following Book Order Form.
Pamphlet Order Form
NEW! 3rd Edition of Lost & Found, The Adoption Experience by Betty Jean Lifton. The book explores the obstacles and issues that adoptees, orphans, and foster children face when they have been separated from a parent or denied the right to know their origins.
Lost & Found