Support services for adopted adults who wish to access information
We recognise that many adopted adults would like more information about their early life and to explain why they were adopted. Adoption Now provides a support service for adopted adults who may wish to access information from their adoption record. This service is available to those over 18 years old who live in one of the Adoption Now areas (Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside or Blackburn with Darwen). If you are currently living outside of our region, you should initially seek advice from your local Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) or Adoption Support Team.
In order for us to complete a search for your adoption records we will first need to confirm:
• Your birth name
• The name of the Local Authority or Adoption agency that placed you for adoption. If you do not know your birth name, we recommend that you to apply to the General Register Office (GRO) using the link below to request your birth information (BIBA) before contacting us.
For all adopted adults we will offer you a consultation meeting prior to you receiving your information. This is a session where we can discuss the motivation for your search, help you to make sense of the historical context of adoption and ensure you have appropriate support. We would also use this meeting to verify photographic identification to ensure confidentiality, for example, a passport or driving licence and evidence of your current address.
We have some frequently asked questions below about the records provided by Adoption Now, but if you wish to speak to a worker for advice regarding accessing adoption information please contact us on:
Telephone: 01204 336097
Email: adoptionsupport@adoptionnow.org.uk
What information will my adoption records contain?
Adoption records vary enormously depending on the year that they were written. Older records often contain less information. The Adoption Records in our area are held in numerous formats, such as paper, electronic, and microfiche.

We endeavour to share as much information as we possibly can to help answer any questions. Please note that some third party and protected information will be removed. In some cases, Adoption Now may be unable to locate adoption records. This may be because they were previously destroyed. Until 1975 there was no legislation to stipulate for how long and how adoption records should be kept. We can support and advise you in this situation too! For instance, we may be able to apply to the court on your behalf to access any adoption court records.
How long will I have to wait to receive my information?
The Adoption Regulations states that we are required to give priority to cases where the Adoption Order was granted before 12th November 1975 or where you or your relative maybe elderly or terminally ill. This may mean that some younger adopted adults may have to wait slightly longer to receive their information. We also review all requests regularly and prioritise according to: The date your request was initially made to us. Where your adoption records are held. It often takes between 3-9 months from your initial request to receiving information from your adoption record. Adoption Now does not directly hold the adoption records and as a consequence does not have control over all aspect of the timescales to obtain those records. We understand how important this information is to adopted adults and will endeavour to keep you updated regarding the progress of your request.
Can you support with tracing and contact with birth family?
We know that many adopted adults want to access their adoption records to get information about their early life, while others want to make links with their birth family. We would recommend that the best course of action is to ask an OFSTED registered intermediary agency to search and contact them on your behalf to ensure all parties including the adopted adult and the birth family are supported within this process. Adoption Now is not a designated intermediary service or tracing service, although we will be able to provide you with details of services that will help you regarding this if required.
Support organisations and useful links
The below booklet also offers guidance about tracing family members and provides contact details for agencies that offer intermediary services: (Please note that we are not responsible for the content of external websites listed below)
Tracing Birth Relatives, A Practical Guide by CoramBAAF https://www.coram.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work-and-impact/corambaaf/
As an adopted adult or birth relative of someone adopted you can register your wishes with respect to future contact via with Adoption Contact Register or your wish can be recorded by us at Adoption Now on the adoptees adoption file.
First Family Support PAC-UK | Birth Parent & Relatives Support Support and advice for birth family members whose child has been adopted.
Adoption Search and Reunion Adoption, Search & Reunion (adoptionsearchreunion.org.uk)- This website provides information and advice for adult adoptees searching for their birth records and wishing for contact with birth relatives.
The Adoption Contact Register Adoption records: The Adoption Contact Register - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – For anyone wishing to register their wishes (and contact details) about contact with an adopted person or birth family members.
General Register Office Adoption records: Accessing your birth records - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) - For adult adoptees who do not have a copy of their original birth certificate you can contact the GRO and request this. We also recommend that if you do not know the name of the court where the adoption order was made or the name of the agency involved in your adoption then you should contact the GRO to complete a Birth Information Before Adoption form prior to contacting the local authority.
Advice regarding records and tracing FamilyConnect - Building Stronger Families - Detailed independent information and advice from Family Action (PAC-UK) regarding support for adopted adults and care leavers.
Adopted adults who were adopted from overseas: IAC: The Centre for Adoption - International Adoption Agency (icacentre.org.uk)