Adoption

History of the act of formal adoption and the law

Before 1976

Adoption was put on a formal footing in 1926, following the publication of the Adoption of Children Act.

Prior to this, adoptions were arranged by adoption societies and between private individuals. Some societies, one being the Church of England Children's Society, maintain records of adoptions that they arranged. Boards of Guardians also prepared reports but very few remain.

When the act was drafted it was assumed that the adopted person’s break with the birth family would be total and it was believed that the adopted person would never be able to trace their birth roots.

By 1927, adoptions had to be approved by magistrates meeting at a Petty Sessions Court where each court maintained a register. The registers can be disappointing as handwriting is often poor. These registers are closed by law for 75 years

The registers contain:

• The date, name of the child to be adopted, & the date of birth.
• The name and address of the birth mother (and sometimes the father).
• The name and address of the adoptive parents, and sometimes the name of the person acting as Guardian ad Litem, and the decision of the court.

The clerk to the Petty Sessions Court kept a file on each adoption and many have been destroyed. Some may be deposited at the NRO, but are not open to public inspection.

Later, local authorities were given authority to supervise adoptions and children's officers were appointed. These were sometimes attached to the Education Department (before the creation of Social Services departments in 1971), who again kept a register of all the cases with which they were involved. The registers are dated 1927-1945 and are a useful indication as to whether there are papers relating to the adoption in the Children's Officer's files. If the register indicates that the County Council acted as Guardian ad Litem, there should be relevant papers.

Children's Officer's files can be disappointing but should contain forms signed by the birth mother relinquishing her rights to the child. Sometimes there is correspondence from the local clergy as to the suitability of the prospective parents. Sometimes there will be a note about the birth mother and her circumstances and in some cases notes about the father too.

Registers of all adoptions are kept at the General Register Office and indexes to them can be accessed BUT only the adoptee is allowed access to the information that links the birth name with the adopted one.

After 1976

The Adoption Act which came into being in 1976, changed things slightly. This made provision for people adopted after 11th November 1975 to have the right to access their birth records once they reached 18 years of age. It gave people adopted before that date the same right, but with the proviso that they must seek counselling first. The NRO will NOT release records to anyone without the appropriate official paperwork to say that this has been done.

What is adoption?

Adoption is a way of providing a new family for a child when living with their own family is not possible. It is the means of giving a child an opportunity to start again.

The adoption process

To be eligible for adoption the child must be under the age of 18 years and a child for whom returning home to their parents is not possible. Should the child bemarried or has been married they cannot be adopted.

An Adoption Order severs all legal ties with the birth family and confers parental rights and responsibilities on the new adoptive family. The birth parents no longer have any legal rights over the child and they are not entitled to claim them back. The child becomes a full member of the family; they take adoptive parents surname and assume the same rights and privileges as if they had been born to them, including the right of inheritance.

All adoption orders must be granted by the High Courts, County Courts or Juvenile Courts.They issue a directive to the Registrar General to make an entry in the adopted childrens register, according to the particulars of the adopted child and adoptive parents.

The new Adoption and Children Act 2002

The new Act, which came into force on 30 December 2005, brings the law on adoption up to date and puts the needs of the child above everything else. The changes in the law should improve the adoption service and help more people consider adoption.

Who's search is it?

It is the adoptees search- no one else’s and should be carried out at their pace.

Any adoptee that chooses to search needs to do so for themselves and with very good reason.

All sorts of things may be uncovered along the way, that will raise emotional issues and thoughts. As each occurs they need to be thought through, and their implications, on everyone, not just the adoptee, need close examination. What a well meaning friend thinks about something maybe completely different as to what you think, gather opinion by all means, but ultimately, regardless of what anyone else thinks, It’s the adoptees feelings that matter most.

2 Senario’s ( of hundreds !)

You have your birth name, and your birth parents names on your original birth cert and have started basic factual research.

You find evidence to suggest that your birth mother went on and married.

Senario 1

She married a man 2 years after you were born, and had children, which consequently are your half siblings

Senario 2

She went on to marry your birth father 2 years after you were born and had children that are consequently your full siblings.

What does that make you feel? . Scenario 1 evokes different feeling to scenario 2.This needs to be thought through and will have implications on what you may or may not choose to do next, or even ever.

where to start?

1st step

In order to start your search it is necessary to obtain a copy of your Full original birth certificate.

i)if you know your birth name.

Sending for an original birth cert is no more difficult than sending for any other certificate from the GRO. The cost is £7.00 , and should be applied for using a GRO Reference Number. Should you have the inabilty to look it up for yourself, be assured that there is nothing in the GRO index that indicates the person is adopted.

ii)if you dont know your birth name

You will need to apply to the Registrar General for the infomation. If you were adopted before 12.11.1975 you are required to meet with an adoption counsellor prior to being given this information.

This counselling is arranged through the Office for National Statistics,

General Register Office,

(CA section) Smedley Hydro,

Trafalgar Rd,

Southport,

Merseyside

PR2 2HH.

You should write to that office and they will send you an application form and infomation leaflets which should be carefully read and followed.

Counselling will be arranged at a time convenient to you, and at a location of your choosing, and will not happen overnight. Adoption records take time to source and post-adoption counselling is only a small part of what todays adoption teams do.

If you know your birth name, it is still highly beneficial to have a session or even two with a post adoption counsellor.They dont bite and have a wealth of knowledge and experience and will not be shocked by anything they hear, nor judge how you feel. They are there to hold your hand,let them hold it.

Could a friend do the job as well as a counsellor?

You may think so, but No, a friend can listen, and to a point understand, but what they cannot do is feel impartial.You can pretty much say anything to a counsellor and they will understand, and have probably heard it before anyway.That counsellor will always be there for you, and far better, if you get to the point of contacting a Birth parent, that they make that approach, than a well meaning friend.

2nd step

Write down everything you have been told about your birth and circumstances surrounding it.

If you have accessed your file through a counselling session, then again you will have information that you can note down.If you haven't, maybe its time to get that counselling arranged. An adoption file can contain a wealth of info or very little but its all facts with which you can work.

It must be noted that not all files contain the absolute truth, what is recorded is what the agency or social worker involved was told at the time, by the parties involved.

In the case of privately arranged adoptions information maybe hard to find , although the local authority that covers the area of the court that made the adoption order should have records, if only brief. At the very least they will have overseen your welfare supervision, and may still have the records

3rd step

Actively register you interest in the places that birth families will have registered their desire to establish contact - if this is what you seek to achieve - below

i) The Registrar General.[i]Before 1891 the registrar general operated a non- statutory system of record tagging, a kind of unofficial swap system , so that counsellors could be advised of enquiries made by birth family members about an adopted person, which can then be passed on at a counselling session.

Since May 1991 the adoption contact register has been operational and a relative may have registered. Apply for the forms to complete along with a leaflet of

explanation to:

Office of National Statistics

General Register Office (CA section)

Smedley Hydro

Trafalgar Rd

Southport

Merseyside

RP8 2HH

ii) To the society that arranged you adoption.

iii)The NORCAP register

iv) the local authority adoption section that arranged your adoption

Step 4

Gathering your evidence

(Search flowchart)

Coping with the hard facts

Once you start searching you must prepare yourself for finding things that you may find unpleasant and well as positive things. Do try and prepare yourself for the worst care senarios, then it can only be better. Its is possible, despite what you have been led to believe , that you may have been born as a result of Rape,Incest or that you were in fact a foundling.Maybe you were conceived as result of an extra marital affair or you birth mother was nothing more than a child herself.All these senarios cause different emotions which should be thought through before proceding and again, consideration given as to the likely outcome of a reunion with a mother who gave her child for adoption in one of those 'worst case ' senarios.

Put youself in that birth mothers shoes and consider again how she might have felt both then and will feel now if you re-enter her world. Maybe it will make you ability to approach her easier, or harder but either way, at least you'll know.

Coping with finding a death of a birth parent - if your aim was to meet them- can be desperately hard, and of course, can be discussed with your counsellor. After a long slog,the finding of a death can close a journey so abruptly, so again examine how you'll feel if you happen across this.

Although it's my search who else does it affect?

As has been said, it is the adoptee's search and no one else's, although other people are involved to various degrees. Their thoughts and feelings may play a part in this search, in the way you go about things and to whom you can feel comfortable talking to about it.

i) You - explore what you really feel before you embark upon the search. Are you ready? If not, don't start! Dont ever feel pressured by anyone else that is something you have to do, you dont if you dont want to!

ii) Your Husband/wife/partner

Its a good idea to have a spouse/partner with you in spirit, whilst undergoing your search.there will be days, weeks even ,when you feel elation or despair which will be hard to diguise or brush off feelings that may emerge in you may manifest as anger or jubilation, and its far better to be in a position to sharewith those that love you, than to have to try to cover it up .A partner may not understand why you need to know - they dont have to and although it might make things more difficult emotionally, it is still considered better than they are aware that you are doing it.

iii)Your children

Are your children of an age to understand the concept that you are exploring? Will it confuse them as to who they are, or indeed who they are? Will it confuse them as to their loyalties if and when your search comes to fruition, as to who is who, and where they stand with who? If you have any doubts, that they will not understand the concept, keep it until they do.

iiii)Your Adoptive parents

This is always a difficult one, and depends on how open you feel your parents were with you about your adoption.People that have had a chance to talk with their adoptive parents freely and openly over the years about the fact that they were adopted may find it easier, than those for whom it was a closed subject, or indeed kept a complete secret and the adoptee has discovered rather than having been told .

If you feel you can tell your adoptive parents, its probably better that they know. They love you and maybe able to fill in some more blanks that will help you on your way, they, after all probably know fact that they havent told you, quite simply because you haven't felt the need to ask, up until now.

Adoptive parents are not a naive as we are given to believe.They are few that do not realise that this search is not something their adopted child may one day, want to embark upon. The may have reservation, or feel a little put out, and if so then the quieter and calmer you are about it, probably the better.

iv) Your birth family

Of course, you search may have implications on them. The circumstances surounding your birth maybe completely in the open and common knowledge amongst subsequent husbands/partners/siblings, but of course it may not. It cannot be stressed enough, that a birth mothers 'here and now' must be given consideration irrespective of an adoptee's needs and wants - however hard that is for the adoptee - the adoptee that tries to breezes back into a birth mothers life is likely to get a less favourable reception than one who has tactfully and quietly made an advance and respected birth mothers feelings and has proved by their actions that they can be discrete and diplomatic.

Sarah's Story

In this section I'm going to tell Sarahs Story

You have started this journey, that will lead you into the unknown. You have applied for your Original birth cert and have recieved your councelling.

Sarah was scared, once she applied for her file, She wondered if it was the right thing to do after all this time. She sat and waited, and imagined all sorts, in the time it took for her file to arrive with the councillor.When the day arrived she got the collywobbles but went along anyway.

Maybe that councillor told you things from your file that you were not aware of.

When Sarah left the meeting, a couple of hours later her mind was in a whirl, and her hand held tightly to a plastic folder, containing information that the councellor had photocopied for her. her mind was stuffed to bursting with thoughts.

Take time to absorb and talk with your loved ones about what you have learned so far.Does it alter what you do next?

Sarah wasnt sure if she felt she was really a 'Jeanette' she far prefered the name Sarah, given to her by her adoptive parents, and wondered why her birth mother had chosen Jeanette. Later, after putting her children to bed, she and her husband sat and talked about what she'd been told, and shared with him the snippets of info that the birth papers contained. Sarah wasn't suprised that her birth mother wasn't married, - she'd always been told that by her adoptive Mum and Dad. What she did find hard was that Adoptive mother had given another child for adoption, some years earlier, and although she was unmarried at the time of Sarahs birth, she had been married and had an older son of that marriage. It suddenly occured to Sarah that having thought her mother was unmarried, she was in fact divorced. Having gone in to that meeting thinking she was the child of an unmarried mother, she'd come out knowing she was the third child of a divorcee.

Find a large note book and write down everything you now know to be fact, along with the things you thought you knew, and note down the way these things could have progressed.

Sarah headed up some pages in a note book, and wondered if she'd ever find out anything to write on the pages after she'd headed them up. Looking at the notes that the councillor had given her, it occured to her that the half brother, who was 14 at the time of her birth,must know of her existance,surely? Where is he now? will he want to know me? On birth mothers page she stated to write down her thoughts. Did she ever marry again? What became of her? who was she married to before she was born? who did she marry after if she did, and in capital letters, WHERE IS SHE NOW? She also headed up a page, my father, although she wasnt sure of his name, the councillor had given her some clues as there was ref to the other child given for a adoption. A page was headed My sister, followed by the words who is SHE now?

having given some though as to what may or may not have happened and to satisfy your curiosty, try and see the place that was given as B/m's address at the time of your birth, especially if you think it was her home.

Sarah and her husband Joe planned a weekend away as Sarah was born some distance to where she now lived. The children were excited at the thought of a weekend with Granny and off Sarah and Joe went happy in the knowledge that they had time to explore. They travelled and managed to find the house that Birth mother had lived in at the time of her birth.It felt strange to think that her birth mother had walked across that doorstep and along the very road on which they were standing. The house was nothing outstanding, just an ordinary house in an ordinary street. Leaving the car in that very street, Sarah and her husband walked into the town centre, as no doubt her birth mother had done so very many times.

Take your note book with you, note down anything youfind, and use the info in it to explore local sources of info, you may not get the chance again

They found the local library and went upstairs to the ref section and looked in the electoral rolls, there she was, 1961, Barbara Bowen, 22 West St ,Rosetown. Who was this? in the same house was an Ellen Keer..who was Ellen Keer? Sarah remebered in her notes , one of the reason given for her adoption, was that Barbara had been told by her mother that she couldnt keep her baby.Barbara had also said that she had to care for her elderly mother..was this the name of the elderly Grandmother that had so not loved her? Joe and Sarah haulled copy after copy of the electral roll down from the shelves.Sarah went on from 1961 and Joe went back,noting that Barbara and Ellen had lived her together for some years. When they got back to 1958 they happened across a George Keer at the same address- who was he? Still plodding back, Joe managed to establish that Barbara had indeed lived here when her seond child was born,along with this George and Ellen Keer. Sarah went forwards and following carefully thru, continued to track the existance of Barbara at that same address, and came across a Michael Bowen that suddenly appeared on the list in 1965, a quick calcualtion in her head reminded sarah that being 14 at the time of her birth, this Michael was her half brother !

Dont try and do too much at once.Take your time and stay and stay focused.Take time out to think thru what you have found, and the implications of it.

Joe feels that Sarah is finding things and will become confused if she continues.He suggest they go and have some lunch and some time out. Sarah would really just like to stay here and search, but realises both she and Joe are actually quite hungry. Time has flown by! Over lunch they talk about the weather, No of course they dont! They talk about what they have found and what they now know. Sarah starts a new page and writes down the facts that they seem to have established and what ends need tying off for today. After lunch they go back to the library and finish off looking thru the electoral rolls.

Take time again to sort your facts, wonder how you feel about them, what to do next and where to go for that info.

Some days later sarah takes time out, in a quiet moment , to look at the book. She considers what she has found, simply through close examination of the electoral Roll.The names, what they mean, who was who and why. 1956-Barbara at 22 west St, also George Keer & Ellen Keer 1958- Barbara still there, likewise Ellen, but George is gone 1959- 1964 Ellen & Barbara remain there 1965 Ellen disappears, still Barbara remains 1967- Michael appears with Barbara 1969 Barbara remains, Michael is still there, Simon appears < who is Simon? 1971 they all have gone, new names at that address. What a lot to take in.

next step is Checking that the facts you have found are correct, before moving on and forming asumptions- check now rather than come unstuck later.

Sarah got herself some credit on an internet website and started to hunt around the dates where things changed, in the births deaths and marriage sections.She knew that in 1958 George Keer had ceaced to appear on the electoral roll at 22 West st.Yes, there in the death index was his death, She noted the ref numbers in readiness to order the certificate. Looking again for death, Yes there in 1965 is the death Of Ellen. She looked and looked for the births of Michael and Simon, and still drew blanks in the right. She did spot that there were a couple of births up North in the right names, with the maiden name Keer, so again noted the refs. 'Cripes, this is going to be expensive she though! But to know that she had found half siblings she knew it was something she had to do.

Focusing your search and trying to keep costs down

Sarah went on looking though the births death and marriage registers with a fine toothcomb, day after day, wondering and thinking that she was going to stumble across the death of her birth mother.No.What she did happen across was a marriage in the area.Right name, but in 1970, not 1971.She notes the ref for the bride and cross refs it with a name for the groom. Sarah shows her list to Joe, although he is behind her research every step of the way, he suggests getting the marriage cert first, and letting to others wait a bit - George and Ellen are dead, nothing will change that.

Send for what you can when you can, going first for the items that will add something to your search in terms of progress, rather than just confirmation of fact at this stage.

Sarah sends for the marriage cert that she is sure is her birth mother and waits for it to arrive. It seems like forever and she so wants to send for more, especially the birth certs for Simon and Michael, funds just dont permit right now, so they'll have to wait.Sarah is anxious to know about the child her birth mother gave for adoption before she was born, again she looks through the birth registers, not really sure what she is looking for. She finds a girl born about the right time, Mothers name match and so does that maiden name.Joe agrees that she should send for this cert now!

Prepare yourself for every eventuality when waiting for certificates, and other records to arrive.

Sarah waited for what seemed like an age, until the day the marriage cert landed on her doormat.for a while she couldnt open it.What if it was wrong, what if it was right? Finally she did open it, and saw her birth mothers name.Barbara Bowen Nee Keer and the name of her groom, Anthony Russell, fathers name matched and the address given for the bride - 22 West St. Sarah was elated, she'd actually found documentary evidence for herself!

Never be afraid to get back to your councillor.he/she will always be glad to hear from you as to how things are going, and for any advice or support you need.

Sarah decided, being so pleased with herself she'd ring her councillor. She told her of how she'd got on and that she'd now got a marriage cert and her councellor was pleased for her. Not being able to see the wood for the trees the councillor was able to put Sarah back on the right track as to where to look next, which Sarah hadnt really realised.She had an address for the groom at the time of marriage so it was back to the electoral rolls to hunt him out!

There are times when you need to back track and look at sources you thought you'd looked at an finished with

Sarah was eager to get back to Rosetown to once again scour the electoral registers. How lucky was she that her birth mother had re-married in the same town? Very she thought.Sarah realised that the address for address for Anthony Russell was in fact in the next town to Rosetown. She rang the Libriary to check, and was delighted to find they were held in the same place as those for Rosetown.Off she and Joe went again hoping tha she might strike gold again. And they did... There in black and white was Anthony Russell , at the address he gave on the marriage cert, for 4 years before the marriage, Not only that, but Sarah was lost for the right words when , at the same adress , from the year of the marriage , there was a Mrs Barbara Russell. She carefully followed through subsequent years- Anthony disappeared early in the 1990's but Barbara remained there until the current electoral role - Sarah realised at that point just how near she was to finding her birth mother. having come this far, she was terrified

When making that initial approach, try and allow the councellor to approach for you, they know they way, the right words and have a greater chance of success.

Full of fear and yet elation, the very next day Sarah rang her councillor. What ever should she do? She felt so near, having found out that her birth mother was within reach as it were and yet she was scared to take that final step.Was it what she really wanted? Did she want to step back over that line, with all the fears of rejection utmost in her mind? After all, her birth mother hadn't wanted her then, she might not want her now. The councillor actually said very little, she just listened.She asked sarah what she wanted to do, it was her decision, and if she so chose , she could do nothing. Sarah decided she'd take some time to think and decide what she'd do now. Could she willingly set herself up for a painfull fall? was it really woth it? She had a Mum and dad that loved her, what more did she want?

Take time to assess what you really want - If your finding out about a birth parent is all you want, dont feel you have to meet them, and certainly dont push yourself in to doing something you feel you ought to do, rather than want to do.

Sarah, after much thought , decided that she wished to try and make contact with her birth mother.But How? She sat with endless pieces of note paper and began to try and write a letter. How on earth should she start? Dear Mum wasn't right, Dear Birth Mother That sounded so odd. Dear Barbara ? Maybe... Dear Mrs Russell? No, nothing sounded right.She decided to leave the heading for now, and just write the letter.. again and again she screwed up pieces of paper, just not getting it right. Just what should she put? I am your daughter? I was your daughter? I am Sarah? I am Jeanette? I was Jeanette?? heaven only knows which was right!

If you are still unsure, take advantage of the exprience of your councillor - remember they are not as emotionally attached as you and maybe able to make a better approach as a professional than you can.You may only get one go at an approach, get it wrong and you cant undo it.

Sarah got in touch with her councellor again. The Councellor asked her to come to the office with the info she had gathered.Sarah was morethan happy to do this - she hoped the councellor would be able to tell her what to do! In she went and went through the info, telling the councellor some of her thoughts and feelings as she did so. Given the time and expemse sarah had incurred, the councillor was of the opnion in her own mind, that Sarah probably did want to try and meet her birth mother if it was possible, or certainly open some kind of communication. She offered to write a letter on Sarahs behalf to her birth mother, which Sarah thought was an excellent idea.Sarahs only hesitation was exactly what the coucillor would actually put in that letter. No problem said the councellor,I'll write it and run it past you first. Sarah left the councellors office feeling much better.She felt that someone else really understood her hesitation and inability to write the unwritable letter for fear of saying the wrong thing. A couple of days later, the councellor did ring, and read out the proposed letter, Sarah listened ...and cried. It was absolutley right in what it said, and Sarah agreed that the councellor should send it on its way, that very day.

Remember, patience is a virtue! It has taken maybe many month to get together all your info, you have had time to think out your thoughts. One day this letter drops on birth Mothers doormat, please allow her time to thik what she wants too- very few reply the next day, after all, its not an easy time for them either.What ever they put in the reply to you has the potential to turn their whole world upside down.

Sarah waited, sometimes patiently, others days quite annoyed, because Barbara didnt reply. How long does it take for someone to answer a letter?, she thought.

irrespective of what reply Sarah got from that letter, we'll leave her there for the time being.

What are the costs involved in searching?

In working out what costs will be incurred, one needs to think further than simply financial costs. Other things to consider are time, energy and emotional cost as well as monitary.

Time will have to be put aside for counselling session(s) as well as for travel to register offices and maybe even to the GRO.Research can be very time consuming, and when a critical point it reached can be 'life encompassing' and needs to be strictly disciplined so that it does not become your whole life. Never forget that your family needs you now! Do you have that time without making too many sacrifices?

Seaching through Birth death and marriage records cost little, if anything. What needs to be thought out is how to pay for the inevtiable cerificates that will be required and expenses such as travel. A telephone is a useful asset , and a very draining resource - if every last penny you can muster goes into research something or someone is bound to suffer. Set yourself a budget and try and stick to it .

Source to aid in the search for a birth parent

The Register of electors will soon become familiar to you, and will no doubt be searched on countless occasions.These are availible only in the locality to which they are relevant. They can only be searched by address - the address at which a birth parent lived when you were born is a good start point.

Birth deaths and marriages index.Hours spent closely examining birth death and marriage registers will soon become a time consuming interest.Record your findings and note where and when you have looked.Make notes and record every possibility just in case.

Telephone directories/on line directories

Make a list of all the occurances of the right name, and cross ref them with the electoral roll.Probably the last thing you'd ever do is actually telephone someone you thought to be a birth parent, but using a telephone directory to gather name occurances is a good idea.

How do you know if you are adopted?

In recent times, given the changes in adoption law and current thinking, that it is better that a child know they are adopted, than for them to 'find out' by some other means. Many, although not all, of today's adoptees maintain contact with their birth parents, although this is relatively new thinking.

Many people will no doubt go through life never even knowing they were adopted, No one has ever told them and they have never had a situation arise in which they have queried their parentage- its a small minority though.

Most will know, because their parents have told them, maybe just once and never spoke of it again, but nevertheless, have told them. Other parents will be open and honest and expain to the child what being adopted means, maybe starting at an early age, before the child even understands the complex meaning of what they are being told.

There is no rule, No-one has to tell their child they are adopted ( although the child may not thank them should they ever discover!) and there is nothing to say that a child shouldn't be told, for whatever reason. A parent's ability to talk about their Child's adoption no way reflects on their love for the child - some can talk openly and honestly about adoption, like many other things, others Just not as confident.

Maybe a good time to note... When telling a child about their pre-adoption situation, many Parents may not tell the whole truth. That is not to say they set out to lie or decieve, but simply, that as parents its their job to protect and care for you and your feelings. No parent want their child to hurt, so maybe will not tell of things that they think will hurt or cause you distress. Dont think any the less of them for this - its because they love you.

Tracing Birth relatives- sources

Whatever form of trying to trace your birth family you choose to use, its a good idea to register your 'desire to know' in the appropriate place ie places where Birth families might also look for you.

There are various places that can help you by registering your interest, the GRO adoption contact register possibly being the best.This is a two part system,part A for the adoptee to register their interest, and part B for a birth family to register theirs.

Adopted children register

Created in 1991, the Adoption Contact Register exists to put adopted people and their birth relatives in touch with each other if that is what they both wish.

The Contact Register cannot help an adopted person to learn of the whereabouts of a birth relative or to know their birth relative’s wishes unless the relative has also chosen to be entered on the Contact Register.From 30 December 2005 applicants can record a wish for specific or no contact with a named individual.

The Adoption Contact Register is in two parts and there is a one-off registration fee per entry of £15 for Part 1 and £30 for Part 2.

Part 1 of the Contact Register is for adopted adults to record their wishes for contact or no contact with birth relatives. .

Part 2 of the Contact Register is for birth relatives to record their wishes for contact or no contact with the adopted person. To apply birth relatives must satisfy the General Register Office of their relationship to the adopted person.

NORCAP offers adults affected by adoption practical help and support to locate and make contact with relatives lost through adoption.

Membership is available through their website: NORCAP:Supporting Adults Affected by Adoption

first year subscription including a registration fee of £50

My Folks Website

A site to search and place messagesto find family and friends in the UK.

Debby and Joan joined hands to create this website and offer you our combined abilities to assist and help complete your search. We offer an intermediary service and provide 100% support throughout. You can rest in the knowledge you are in the safe hands of two successful and experienced researchers.

Joan and Debbie offer a telephone service too -

Joan -Tel: 01454 615031 up to midnight.

Debby - Tel: 0870 991 3769 Evenings/weekends

They'll not only help and advise you in your search, they'll laugh and cry with you too.

They do make a charge for their services ( although not just for talking and advising), which can be quite costly , Joan advises that this can amount to be around £200.

Some Useful Addresses

Office of National Statistics (ONS)

Adopted Children Register (and/or) Adoption Contact Register

Smedley Hydro

Trafalgar Road

Southport

Merseyside

PR8 2HH

Tel:01514 714 313

The General Register Office (Northern Ireland)

Oxford House

49-55 Chichester Street

Belfast

BY1 4HL

The General Register Office (Republic of Ireland)

8 - 11 Lombard Street

Dublin 2

The General Register Office (Scotland)

Adoption Unit

New Register House

Edinburgh

EH1 3YT

National Organisation for the Counselling of Adoptees and Parents (Norcap)

112 Church Road

Wheatley

Oxfordshire

OX33 1LU

Tel:01865 875 000

Post Adoption Centre

8 Torriano Mews

Torriano Avenue

London

NW5 2RZ

Tel:020 7284 0555

Public Search Rooms

Family Record Office

1 Myddleton Street

London

EC1 1UW

Tel:01704 569 824

Area /Organisation specific contact points

waiting on info

Birth parents/siblings - searching for those they gave for adoption

still to do.....

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