Genealogy Chat

Beverley Even if you knew one of the names (pre or post adoption) and could view both indexes side by side,you still couldn't tally the entries together.Adoptions could take place when a child was a few months old or a few years old. Blood relatives of an adopted person can now apply for help to trace a person adopted from their family,but only an adoptee themselves can access the adoption file for their own adoption. Glen

Thanks Nell, I was quite disappointed to hear that you could not check adoption records. I was advised from another member that it was possible, she advised that if you knew the name at adoption then it would be possible to find out what the next given name was. Thanks for enlightening me. Regards, Bev

You cannot search adoption records at Kew. You can only see YOUR own adoption records, and I think that's via your local social services - but if you put Adoption into the search box at the top of the message board you'll see past threads about this topic. Do not go to Kew until/unless you know that they have something you want to look at. Check their website first. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ You have to have a reader's ticket so you can register online and then take proof of identity when you visit. You can also pre-order up to 3 documents at a time, so they will be there ready for you to look at. Once you arrive you can then order another 3 documents. It sounds daunting, but is easy once you get to know your way around and there's a cafe and bookshop too. But please check that what you want is there before you go. nell

HI I wondered if anyone here had ever visited Kew? I am going there at the weekend hopefully and I wondered if anyone had been there to search for adoption records and could give advise as to whether to book etc Thanks for your help Bev