Non-Identifying Information

Ontario’s New Adoption Law, effective June 1, 2009, for Adult Adoptees and Birth Relatives Access to Adoption Information Act (ARRA) These brief summaries of the ARRA are intended for quick reference only. For the full version search in www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.

Name of Description Who can apply Where to apply document or register NB: This applies only to adoptions registered in Ontario. Original Birth Birth certificate filled out by the original mother at the Adopted adults (aged 18 +) Applications for access to identifying Certificate child’s birth. It provides the adoptee’s name at birth, the and natural parents (of information for adoptees available at (OBC) name of the mother at the time of the birth, and, adoptees ages 19 +) if ServiceOntario from June 1, 2009. sometimes, the name of the child’s father. named on the OBC. www.ontario.ca/en/residents/111872 This is the ‘sealed’ birth certificate. Phone toll-free: 1 800 461-2156 or Toronto: 416 325-8305.

Amended Birth Birth certificate filled out by the adoptive parents after the Original parents (of Applications for access to identifying Certificate adoption took place. The version available to original adoptees aged 19 +) named information for original parents will be (ABC) parents will provide the name of the adoptee after on the OBC. available at ServiceOntario on June 1, adoption. Names of the adoptive parents are blacked out. 2009.

Non-Identifying Compiled by a social worker at a Children’s Aid Society, Adopted adults, natural If the adoption was handled by a Information based on information found in the adoption file, it will parents, natural Children’s Aid Society (public), apply come to you as a copy of the original documents (with grandparents, adult siblings, directly to that CAS. identifying information removed), or as a summary. It siblings of the natural If the adoption was handled by a licensee will not contain any information that can identify the other parents, adult children of (private), apply to the ON government. party. May contain descriptions of original or adoptive deceased adoptees, adoptive Applications available at ServiceOntario. families—religion, ethnicities, occupations, interests etc. parents. Adoption Registry that allows some individuals to place their names Adopted adults, natural Applications are available at Disclosure on a waiting list. If a relative also registers, the ON parents, grandparents and ServiceOntario. Register government will notify both parties and arrange for an siblings. exchange of information.

Contact A form that permits adopted adults and natural parents to Adopted adults and natural Applications are available at Preference indicate their preferred method of being contacted and parents named on the OBC. ServiceOntario. Form provide their current contact information.

Severe Medical Adoptees, their descendants, natural relatives may apply. Adopted adults and their Applications are available at Search A government doctor may approve. Applicants must descendants, natural ServiceOntario. prove need for information vital to diagnosis or treatment relatives. A health care of a disease, or that s/he has information vital to the professional must also diagnosis of a disease to pass along to the other party. provide information. The Canadian Council of Natural Mothers www.mothers-ccnm.ca. The voice of mothers who have lost their children to adoption in Canada. Thanks to ASK (Adoption Support Kinship) www.askaboutreunion.org in Toronto for permission to adapt their form.