Introduction

If you have been adopted, there are ways to find details about your birth family. If you’re 18 or over, you have the legal right to information about your adoption and to access your birth records. If you’re under 18 and want to find out about your birth family, speak to your adoptive parents and ask them to share the information they have with you.

This can be an emotional and difficult process to go through alone, so we recommend seeking the support of someone you trust to help you during this time.

How can I access my birth records?

If you know your birth details, you can order your birth certificate from the General Register Office (GRO).

If you do not know your birth details, you will need to fill in an application for Birth Certificate Information Before Adoption (BIBA) Service.

• Application for access to birth certificate information – if you live in the UK
• Application for access to birth certificate information – if you live outside the UK

Post or email the form to: [email protected]

Once you have your birth records, you can contact the court that made the adoption order to find out the name of the adoption agency that placed you with your adoptive family. You may also be able to see some of the information in your file.

How do you find birth relatives if you were adopted?

If you’re 18 or older and your birth or adoption was registered with the General Register Office, you can add your details to the Adoption Contact Register. If your birth parents have also done this, the service will then let them know that you’re trying to contact them. No information is passed without the knowledge of each party.

You need to fill in form CR part 1 to add yourself to the register. Read guidance notes on how to complete the form.

You need:

• Your original birth name
• Your date of birth
• The full name(s) of your birth mother (and birth father if known)

The fee is £15 and instructions on how to pay are on form CR part 1.