Ontario’s Adoption Records – Now Open
In May 2008, Ontario passed the Access to Adoption Records Act, 2008, S.O. 2008, c. 5. As of June 1, 2009, adoption records in Ontario are now open. From an ad placed by the Ontario government in a local newspaper:
This means that adopted adults and birth parents can apply for post-adoption birth information from birth records and adoption orders.
An adopted adult, 18 years of age or older, can now apply for a copy of his or her original birth registration and adoption order. A birth parent can receive information from the birth registration and adoption order of the child that was placed for adoption once that child turns 19 years old.
From the Ministry of Community and Social Services website:
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:
- file a notice of contact preference to specify how they would like to be contacted
- file a no contact notice if they do not want to be contacted, but are willing to have their identifying information released
- file a disclosure veto if the adoption was finalized before September 1, 2008. This will prevent identifying post-adoption birth information from being released.
Related links:
Searching for Adoption Information in Ontario (Government of Ontario)
Bill 12, 2008 (Ontario Legislative Assembly)
Attention Families Touched by Adoption in Ontario (Adoption Council of Ontario) – PDF document
When asked for the turnaround time on responding to Post-Adoption Birth Information requests, the Ontario government said they’d have responses out within 6 to 8 weeks.
That means that people who sent requests right away (or already had them pending from those 3 days back in September 2007 when adoption records were open before) should hopefully expect responses sometime between yesterday (July 13) and two weeks from Monday (July 27).
As someone eagerly anticipating a response, I’d love to hear from anyone who has gotten one. I’m concerned that these estimates are too optimistic given the number of vetoes that have been sent, and I’d just like to know how long I have to wait.
My husband requested his Post-Adoption Birth Info on June 1/09, just like many other anxious adoptees. We too are looking for confirmation that someone has received their records. Any gov’t publications simply state that starting June 1/09, people can apply for their Birth Info, it doesn’t say specifically about the gov’t actually processing said applications.
Thank you, both. Unfortunately I have no inside knowledge of the process. Do keep us posted.
Cheers,
Connie
I to applied June 1st 09 and have yet to receive anything. It is now going on 10 weeks.
Thank you, Graydon.
I also applied on June 1, 2009 and have not heard back as of today. I have looked around online to see if anyone has received their information yet, but there seems to be a lack of postings regarding this. Thankfully on this site I found that there are others that have been waiting the same period of time as me so far!
Thank you, Chris.
I’m hoping one of you will come back to report when you *have* heard back.
I, much like the first poster, would love to know when to expect something. Keeping in mind the fact that I currently live in the U.S, I realize that it may take a bit longer for me. I did however mail my application IN Canada going on 12 weeks ago and still havent heard anything. I think what I’m finding most frustrating is the fact that they \cannot confirm we’re receieved your application\. Granted I realize the volume of applications they must have and continue to receive is probably huge but there should be SOME WAY IMO to find out the status of our applications.
If anyone who visits this site and has an application in DOES finally hear something please do let the rest of us know. I know I’m beyond anxious at this point but also due to a horrid and devastating experience with Adoption Disclosure back in 2000 in regards to a search I had done I’m actually quite leary as well and somewhat worried to be honest with you.
I came across this article today.
http://www.insidetoronto.com/article/72112
Although it is dated July 9, 2009, it does give statistics regarding how many applications/vetoes/etc had come in as of June 19, 2009. The number of vetoes vs applications for information is a little disheartening, but I try to keep in mind that vetoes have been coming in for over a year and applications for only a short time. Still, I fear the worst and hope for the best. I agree that not knowing where my application is in the process (or confirmed as being received) is frustrating, and making the wait that much more difficult.
Sorry…vetoes had been coming in for almost 10 months by June 19th, not over a year as I just stated.
Well…. Another Friday postal service has come and gone with still no packages/envelops. This is week #12. Hopefully week lucky #13 will be the one…
When I called ServiceOntario a few weeks back after posting here, I was told the revised timeframe would be 12 weeks from receipt of the application.
As Graydon Huffman noted, today is the end of the 12th week. On a mailing list I’m on, an adoptee has reported that she got her info a week ago (i.e. August 14). She had applied in 2007 on the very first day applications were available.
I applied, also in 2007, on the second day applications were available. So I’m expecting something soon, but nothing’s come yet. I called Service Ontario on Thursday and the person said that they were making their way through the 2007 Post-Adoption Birth Information applications and had not yet started the ones received after June 1, 2009. So regrettably, people who applied this year will have to wait longer.
Here’s hoping #13 will be lucky for all of us waiting…
I called Service Ontario on Thursday and the person said that they were making their way through the 2007 Post-Adoption Birth Information applications and had not yet started the ones received after June 1, 2009.
OMG are you serious?!?!? *big sigh* like we’ve not waited long enough….this is so upsetting!!
I was one of the people who sent in my application the VERY first day of the 3 day law in 2007… I’m still waiting too… Haven’t heard anything – I know they received it because it was sent via FedEx (just to make sure)… I don’t know why those weren’t processed already – could have saved alot of time and also given the processors some practice. Great site by the way – found it quite by accident.
Suggestion for Government – can you maybe put a number to each case so people who have submitted requests can havae an idea as to where they stand in line…?????
Just heard from my Parent Finders group – and apparently several Birth Moms who have applied for information are receiving paperwork about the children they gave up years ago… CCNM – Canadian Council of Natural Mothers … well – back to the mailbox…
Suggestion for Government – can you maybe put a number to each case so people who have submitted requests can havae an idea as to where they stand in line…?????
THAT would be a great idea! and you’d think there would be case numbers in place already really
I sent my application in June 3rd via express post. Tracking says it was successfully delivered June 8th. I have yet to hear anything yet but am glad to find this site so I can try and track the progress in some way.
Does anyone know how it’s delivered? Regular mail or do you have to sign for it like with Non-ID info?
I sent my application in in September 2007…Ist day I think, maybe 2nd. Feels so long ago now.
Still waiting as well, obviously. Nice to have others to commiserate with. I feel anxious when I start thinking too much.
I applied in September 2007 and received a receipt for my application on September 26 2007. I re-applied on June 1/09 and am still awaiting my documentation. I called Service Ontario last week and was told that if I am lucky I may see my documents in the mail by the end of September. Their story is that they’re having trouble matching up amended to original files. Rubbish! The birth registration number is not altered so unless they didn’t bother filing according to a numeric system there is no excuse for this long delay in \service.\ A similar backlog was created at the Adoption Disclosure Registry because they couldn’t sort out how to go about \matching\ people under the \passive\ system, or looking for people under the \semi-active\ registry system (the adoption community figured out how to do these things years and years ago!). The Children’s Aid Societies also had a story like this when access to non-identifying social profiles was mandated in 1987. I’ve been advocating for disclosure reform since 1979 and I’ll believe in this new law the day my own real birth registration arrives.
Same situation as many others – mailed 6 AM June 1, 2009.
Still waiting. No surprise! Good Luck to all of us!o
And here is our Premier on CBC Radio 1 advocating for all of us to pay for IVF for as he calls them Ontario’s daughters who cannot conceive. Hmmmm. what about Ontario’s sons who are infertile I wonder? Maybe Dalton should cough up a few bucks to support the new disclosure law first.
Another sent on June 1st. I have heard nothing yet.
I applied June 3rd. Still waiting. And from the sounds of it, I’ve still got a long wait ahead of me. Sigh.
Me too June 1st. They told me last week they were 2 weeks behind due to last minute vetoes which have to be processed first obviously. She said it would be another 2-3 weeks. Every day I pray this is it…
I got my documents today. I can scarcely believe it. I intend to have these framed…2 weeks shy of my 51st birthday, and 30 years since I joined the disclosure reform movement.
As there are two Chris’s here now, and I will be Chris1!
Holly, congratulations! Wonderful news! You must be over the moon right now!
Thank you for posting to let us all know. It gives us hope that ours may be just around the corner!
Holly, you must be dizzy with excitement! Good luck to you girl. I’ve been registered with the Ministry for over 20 years for a match. I gather those applicatins are NOT done first.
An application to the disclosure registry will not get you your birth documents. You must apply for these separately. This is a whole separate application to the ORG rather than the ADR.
I should note here that I found (sans help from the government but with help from Parent Finders Inc.) and was reunited with my birth mother in 1979 – I called her as soon as my documents came and will be mailing her a photocopy of the photocopy today! – but I have long fought for adoptees’ unfettered equal right of access to our own documents. That we’ve finally accomplished this feat is what makes me, as Jan says, dizzy with excitement!
Good luck to all who will actually be able to use the information on their documents to further their searches!
Holly, when did you originally apply for your documents? I had no idea that documents were available in 2007, and sent mine with the thousands of others on June 1st 2009. Congrats for finally seeing this day!
Kelly
I can’t figure out how they do the matching either. It must get super confusing especially for the first 1000 coming in. I’ll bet it took a month just to work out the kinks and problems in the system. Creepy, but I can easily see how someone could “slip through the cracks” because of some small detail, like a typo or a clerk whose not to sure of what she’s doing.
Too bad CAS couldn’t just tell you what you need to know and be done with it. Jan
Yep…for a couple days at the end of Sept. 2007 when the Adoption Disclosure Information Act of 2005 finally came into effect. It was declared unconstitutional two days later, because of the lack of a veto, and struck down.
I printed off the application and sent it in on the first day in 2007. I later received a letter saying it could not be processed but would be held in a secure location pending the passing of a new law. Very disappointing.
Still waiting….
Thanks HM63, good to know. I wasn’t on the ball with that somehow.
Since I applied June 1, i’m going to guess that it will be at least November before I receive mine. Maybe Christmas. There’s so many to process!
Looks like I have lots of company when it comes to the waiting game. I sent my request on June 2nd. Everyday I hope I will have news when I get home but so far no luck.
I was reunited with my son thru Adoption disclosure in July 2007. He lives in England and has since 1970. He would love to have his orig birth registration. He’s proud to be Canadian and I long to be able to give that to him.
As soon as I get my documents I’ll let you all know.
Geez, I hope my son is at least in Canada…. A ministry person told me that its mostly birth moms vetoing. The statistics say its mostly adoptees vetoing. My mentor whose walking me through this and is standing by to make the first contact for me (has mediated over 100 reunions!), says that at the end of the day curiousity always wins out and those who veto could change their minds at some point. I think late Fall is probably realistic, unfortunately. Annoying. I too rush to the mail box every day…
Are they keeping tabs on those they send vetos to to inform them of a change? I somehow doubt it. Which would mean if you receive a veto you what?….keep sending in new applications with new hopes attached? I don’t think I have the emotional fortitude for that. I’ve had a knot in my stomach for weeks while we play this waiting game.
I have a sinking feeling that I’ll receive a veto from my B. mom. Although, I suppose it would answer that lifelong burning question of whether she wants to know me or not. :/
Friday’s mail has already arrived so I guess we’ll see what Tuesday brings.
I have to say that there is some comfort to be derived after having read the previous posts. I knew I couldn’t be the only person playing the waiting game! I applied June 2 2009 and since then have developed an obsession with my mailbox! I live and work in the same town and was for some time going home on my lunch just to check the mail. I have also called service ontario and was told that there was a backlog of files due to the number of disclosure vetos filed (I hope my birth mother wasn’t one of them!) however I’d rather have a veto verses a no contact order, should either be the case I will continue my search the old fashioned way! Good luck to all!