I live abroad so can I obtain a copy of my original birth certificate?
If you were adopted before 12th November 1975 and do not know your original name, you can apply to the General Registrar Office for access to birth records. You can find out how to do this and download the relevant forms from the DirectGov website.
You will need to make arrangements to meet with an adoption advisor in the country where you are currently residing, as long as a suitable body or organisation is available. You can access a list of approved overseas adoption organisations by contacting the General Register Office on 0151 471 4830.
If your country or area of residence is not covered in this list, you can contact a local adoption/counselling organisation. You will need to supply written confirmation from the organisation that has agreed to help you to the General Register Office, which then sends information about your birth record to your advisor.
If you would prefer you can also travel to the UK and arrange a meeting with an adoption advisor with the local authority in the area where you will be staying. You should pre-arrange the appointment with the adoption advisor as it may take several months for an appointment to be organised. A list of local authorities and adoption agencies can be found on the Finding an Agency to Help You database on this website.
If you know the adoption agency that arranged your adoption then it is worth contacting them to find out if they are able to offer a meeting so that information relating to your original birth record can be shared with you. They may also be able to share any information they have retained about your adoption.
I was adopted after 12th November 1975 so what do I have to do?
If you were adopted after the 12th November 1975 and before 30th December 2005 and you do not know your original name or the name of the agency that organised your adoption then you should make an application to the General Registrar office for the information to enable you to get a copy of your original birth certificate. You can find out how to do this and download the relevant forms from the DirectGov website.
You do not have to meet with an adoption advisor in your country of residence before this information is sent, however some adopted people find it helpful to meet with an adoption advisor. So if you would prefer to meet with an adoption advisor then you can access a list of approved overseas adoption organisations by contacting the General Register Office on 0151 471 4830.
If your country or area of residence is not covered in this list, you can contact a local adoption/counselling organisation. You will need to supply written confirmation from the organisation that has agreed to help you to the General Register Office, which then sends information about your birth record to your advisor.
If I live abroad how can I access further information about my background and circumstances of my adoption that may exist?
The birth certificate will contain your original name, name of your birth mother and her address and the address of where you were born. Unless your birth parents were married at the time of your birth or your birth father registered the birth with your birth mother, then your birth father’s name is unlikely to appear on the birth certificate. However there can often be other avenues to obtain further information about your background and circumstances of your adoption.
For example, if you already know the adoption agency that arranged your adoption, then contact them in the first instance as they will be able to let you know if they hold records. If they do have records then they can make the necessary arrangements for information to be shared with you. They will usually ask you to provide the name of an adoption advisor in your country of residence so the information can be sent to you via them. They will of course need to verify your identity before any information can be disclosed.
If you do not know the name of the adoption agency then the General Registrar Office may be able to pass this information onto you when you receive the form, providing it is known.
If your adoption was privately arranged or there are no details about the adoption agency then you can approach the court where the adoption order was made. The court has the discretion to disclose information to you or your advisor. You can read about how to do this on the Accessing Adoption Records page on this website (see the last question on this page).
It is also worth contacting the local authority where your adoption took place as they may hold some information relating to your adoption.