An adoption disclosure bill was introduced this week in Ontario, Canada, that would give adopted individuals and birth parents access to birth and adoption records.
Currently, individuals who wish to be reunited must register with a government agency, the the process can take as long as three years. Ontario adoption records were sealed in 1927. There are 57,000 people currently searching for their birth parents/child via the government registry. Only 887 of those individuals were reunited last year.
The proposed legislation would allow adopted individuals access to their birth records at age 18. Birth parents would be able to access their child’s adoption records when the child is age 19. Adopted individuals and birth parents would have the option to add a "no contact" notice to their files if they have no desire to reunite.
In Ireland, an adoption registry has just been instituted, so that adopted individuals and birth parents have the opportunity to contact one another if a match is made via the registry.
Adoption Disclosure Increases in Canada, Ireland
in News, Issues, & Commentary
An adoption disclosure bill was introduced this week in Ontario, Canada, that would give adopted individuals and birth parents access to birth and adoption records.
Currently, individuals who wish to be reunited must register with a government agency, the the process can take as long as three years. Ontario adoption records were sealed in 1927. There are 57,000 people currently searching for their birth parents/child via the government registry. Only 887 of those individuals were reunited last year.
The proposed legislation would allow adopted individuals access to their birth records at age 18. Birth parents would be able to access their child’s adoption records when the child is age 19. Adopted individuals and birth parents would have the option to add a "no contact" notice to their files if they have no desire to reunite.
In Ireland, an adoption registry has just been instituted, so that adopted individuals and birth parents have the opportunity to contact one another if a match is made via the registry.