Adoption is something that remains with people for their whole life and sometimes this can be difficult. You may have questions about your early life experiences.
Aspire Adoption can:
- offer support to locate your records and sharing information from them
- listen to your story and help you find answers to the questions you have
- help you understand your own life story and adoption with an experienced social worker
- give you information about organisations for adopted people
- put you in touch with other people who are adopted
For adopted adults adopted before 30 December 2005 (pre commencement adoption regulations) please contact the adoption agency where you live for:
- information about how to access adoption records
- advice about intermediary services including tracing birth family members
For adopted adults adopted on or after 30 December 2005 (post commencement adoption regulations) please contact the adoption agency who arranged your adoption for:
- information about how to access adoption records
- advice about contact with birth family members
If you are aged 18 and over and adopted before 30 December 2005 you can apply to the General Register Office for your birth records information. This information is helpful in being able to locate your adoption records.
For those adopted prior to 11 November 1975 and do not know their birth name, they are legally required to have a counselling interview with a social worker in order to obtain their original birth certificate and access to their adoption records.
There is more advice on accessing your birth records, including information about the relevant forms to complete on GOV.UK
Both adopted adults and birth relatives can register their wishes in relation to contact via the Adoption Contact Register.
This is a voluntary register and contains details of both adopted people and birth relatives who are looking for family members and have made contact with the register to place their name and details on it.
There is a fee to register and further information on how the Adoption Contact Register works, including how to sign up can be found on GOV.UK.
Veto
If you do not wish to have contact with birth relatives and were adopted before 30 December 2005 you have the right to place a veto on your adoption file.
The veto is legally binding and will remain in force for life or until you choose or wish to amend it. In order to place a veto on your file you will need to speak with an experienced adoption social worker to discuss this.
There are two types of veto:
- an absolute veto - this prevents an intermediary making an approach to the adoptee in any circumstances
- a qualified veto - this allows an intermediary to make an approach only in certain circumstances (for example to pass on specific medical information)
In addition to Aspire Adoption there are other agencies who can provide support to adopted adults. This includes PAC-UK who are able to offer access to short-term counselling.
PAC-UK Advice Line 0300 1800 090
Opening times:
- Monday to Wednesday 10am to 4pm
- Thursdays 10am to 7:30pm
- Friday 10am to 4pm
Or visit Family Action for more information.
