Genealogy Chat

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If you are the adopted person: Before 1975 some parents and adopters may have been led to believe that the children being adopted would never be able to find out their original names or the names of their parents. These arrangements were made in good faith and it is important that adopted people who want to find out more about their origins should understand what it might mean for them and for others. This means that if you were adopted before 12 November 1975, the adoption Act requires you see an experienced social worker called a counsellor before you can obtain information from your original birth record. If you were adopted after 11 November 1975, you may choose whether or not you would like to see a counsellor before you are given the information, which will lead you to your birth record. You may find it helpful to see a counsellor, as they may be able to offer practical advice and guidance as well as discussing any concerns or issues which are important to you. Copies of full or short certificates from the Adopted Childrens Register are only available from the General Register Office WEB ADDRESS: http://www.gro.gov.uk General Register Office (Adoptions Section), Smedley Hydro, Southport, Merseyside PR8 2HH. Applications and further information can be obtained by telephoning 0151 471 4313. Adoption Contact Register There is a provision under the Adoption Act 1976 for the Registrar General to maintain an Adoption Contact Register. This is in two parts, Part 1 is for the adopted person and Part 2 is for a relative of the adopted person, whether that relationship is by blood or marriage. If an adopted person wishes to contact their relatives, they can apply to have their name included in Part 1 of the register. Part 2 contains the names and addresses of relatives, who fulfil the statutory conditions and have notified the Registrar General that they wish to contact the adopted person. The application forms, available from the General Register Office, details the conditions and the fees. A 'link' is made when a registration in Part 1 coincides with a registration in Part 2. The adopted person will be given the name and address of their relative, and the relative will be informed that their particulars have been passed on to the adopted person.

Original birth records are held by local Register Offices ie where the birth took place. Following an adoption, the birth record is marked 'Adopted'. Records of Adoptions showing adoptive parents’ names can only be obtained from the Adopted Children’s Register, held at the General Register Office in Southport (see address below). ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Copies of certificates Anyone can obtain a copy of an adopted person’s original birth record (marked 'Adopted') from the Register Office where the birth took place, as long as they are able to provide sufficient information for them to find the record. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

In the past it was thought that for all concerned, an adopted child’s break with his/her birth family should be total. Parents who placed a child for adoption were generally told that a child would not have access to his or her birth record. Current adoption legislation reflects increased understanding of the wishes and needs of adopted people. It recognises that although adoption makes a child a full member of a new family, information about his or her origins may still be important to an adopted person.