In depth information about search and reunion in England.
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On this page:
> First questions
> Access to information
> Counselling
> Intermediary services
> Contact registers
> Further reading
First questions
See our information for adopted people and birth relatives.
Access to information
Access to information is a crucial part of the search process. Key pieces of information such as birth name or adoption agency are vital to find at the start of the search.
Information relating to adoptions and the people involved is held by:
- Registrar General: birth records, Adopted Children Register
- Adoption agencies: case records and other pieces of information
- Courts: records of adoption proceedings
This information is highly confidential, and access is controlled by law.
England and Wales
When an order is granted an entry is made in the Adopted Children Register and an adoption certificate showing the names of the adoptive parents is issued. Details about the birth parents, birth place and original name are only shown on the full birth certificate, which can be obtained from the General Register Office.
The Children Act 1975 and the Adoption Act 1976 introduced the right for adopted people over the age of eighteen to apply for their original birth certificate. The Adoption Act 1976 also gave adopted people the right to apply to court for information about the adoption agency and local authority involved in their adoption.
The Adoption & Children Act 2002 introduces two new frameworks for the disclosure of information for adoptions taking place before or after the provisions of the Act come into force. These are detailed in the Draft Adoption Regulations and Guidance for Consultation (details are on our consultations page).
Further information:
Counselling
Although adopted people have the right to ask for access to birth records, the law requires certain groups to first receive counselling, while others must be made aware that counselling is available before they are shown this information. If adopted people want to access the records of the agency that arranged their adoption then they would normally be expected to see an adoption counsellor before information is shared from the records.
England and Wales
Section 51 of the Adoption Act 1976 states that all those adopted before 12th November 1975 (and who do not know their birth name) should receive counselling before having access to the full birth certificate. People adopted after this date are offered the option of seeing a counsellor, but it is not required by law. The forms to be used in each of these cases to apply for access to birth records were provided in the Adopted Persons (Birth Records) Regulations 1991 http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/
si1991/Uksi_19911981_en_1.htm
Intermediary services
Once the necessary information has been obtained an adopted person may take the decision to make contact with their birth relatives. Making contact with birth relatives is something that the adoption counsellor will discuss with you. Although some adopted people decide to make direct contact, because of the potential impact and the strong emotions involved it is usually recommended to use an intermediary service where adopted people can receive practical and emotional support. Birth relatives who want to make contact with their adult adopted children or siblings may also wish to make use of Intermediary services. Unlike adopted people birth relatives are not allowed by law to receive identifying information without the adopted adults expressed permission.
England and Wales
Intermediary services are provided by adoption agencies or adoption support groups and will offer practical advice and make initial contact with birth relatives or adopted adults on behalf of the person searching.
The Department of Health published 'Intermediary services for birth relatives: practice guidelines' http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/
04/01/46/59/04014659.pdf in 2000 to help agencies to offer sensitive and effective services, and to inform those personally involved in adoption about the services available to them. The guidance covers:
- The legislative framework and an overview of research
- Providing services for birth relatives
- Locating the adopted person and/or adoptive family
- Acting as an intermediary
- The impact of a birth relative enquiry
- Different stages in the process of reunion
- Working with complex situations
A related document is the Draft National Standards and Guidance on Adopted Adults and their Birth Siblings http://www.dfes.gov.uk/adoption/pdfs/
birthsiblings.pdf published for consultation by the Department for Health in 2001. These Standards set out the services that should be offered to adopted adults and birth siblings, and the consultation responses will be used to develop final standards and guidance.
The Adoption & Children Act 2002 has introduced new provisions allowing birth relatives of an adopted adult to request that an adoption support agency provides an intermediary service so that they can let the adopted adult know of their interest for contact.
BAAF is currently running the Intermediary services Support Project (ISSP) which aims to find out what services are currently offered to birth parents in England and Wales. See the project pages for more information.
Contact registers
Adoption Contact registers are another method that adopted people and birth relatives can use to make contact with one another. Either party can add their own details along with the name of the person they wish to contact and if a match occurs the information is passed on to the other party.
England and Wales
The Adoption Contact Register for England and Wales was set up under Section 51A of the Adoption Act 1976 came into effect on 1st May 1991 http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/
acts1989/Ukpga_1989
0041_en_23.htm#sdiv10 It is run by the General Register Office and questions about its operation are provided on the GRO website http://www.gro.gov.uk/
See below for details of other registers operating in the UK.
Further information:
Further reading
View BAAF books on searching and reunion
The Adoption Reunion Handbook by Liz Trinder, Julia Feast, David Howe
Wiley, 2004
Offers comprehensive practical advice on the search process and includes quotes from adopted people who have searched and had reunions with birth relatives.
http://www.wileyeurope.com/WileyCDA/
WileyTitle/productCd-0470094222
,descCd-authorInfo.html
Heart of reunion: some experiences of reunion in Scotland by Ros McMillan and Gwen Irving
Barnardo's, 1997
A study describing the expectation and experiences of 45 Scottish adoptees who were reunited with their birth families.
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/
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Catalogue_Family_122.html#acc362
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