Accessing your Adoption File

To be eligible to access your birth records, you need to be 18 years old or over. If you were born before November 12^th 1975, then you need to attend a counselling session with an approved adoption advisor (social worker).

Some information in the file may be hard to read. The language used in the file can also be insensitive at times, so it’s important you have support and somebody to talk to if needed. It’s also important to note that you may not get the information you are seeking. There may be gaps in the information held in the file, so questions you have may remain unanswered, which can be frustrating.

Medical information is often limited, but any available medical reports and health details will be shared. In some cases, information may only pertain to the birth mother if the birth father is unknown.

If CCS were involved in your Adoption

You can request your file by filling out the Enquiry Form below and sending it to birthrecords@ccsadoption.org. Once we confirm that we hold a file for you, you will be placed on a waiting list for a file summary. The typical waiting period is 1-3 months. Your file will be reviewed by a social worker, who will prepare a summary of the information it contains. This summary will include any details we have about your birth family and early life experiences. You will then be invited to meet with the social worker to support you in going through the summary. You will also be given copies of the documents in the file.

Enquiry Form

If your Adoption was not via CCS and through a Local Authority

You can access your file by contacting the local authority that placed you for adoption. Waiting lists for this service can differ, so once they have confirmed they have a file for you, it may be worth asking how long it will take to access the information. Some local authorities will write a file summary, but others will only send the documents in the file.

‘At eighteen I decided I wanted to see my file…. Even though I had a good understanding of why I’d been adopted, I still wanted to read the file. I went to the CCS office and sat with a social worker as I went through the documents. It was important to me to have support and to be able to discuss any thoughts or feelings that came up.

Emotionally, it was still hard to read, even though I knew what and why things had happened. Reading about your own childhood trauma in a large document that had been presented in court still felt strange. The language was formal and complex — it looked like an enormous extract from one of my school psychology textbooks! Seeing something so personal, written dispassionately, made me feel uncomfortable at times, even days after reading it. However, I don’t regret going through the document as it did increase my understanding. It also made me realise how much I had overcome and achieved. I remember thinking, ‘damn, I’ve been through a lot — I should be proud of that’, and I was.’ – K, CCS Adoptee

If your Adoption was Intercountry

Sometimes there is no information available.

‘I was interracially adopted from China and am in a rather unusual position in that not only will I never be able to access my birth records, but it is very unlikely that any records exist. This means I will never be able to answer the key question I have always asked, which is why my birth mother abandoned me. Unfortunately, I have had to come to terms with having questions that can never be answered, such as genetics, if I have siblings and any history relating to my birth family. However, I am very fortunate to have had a successful adoption story where I learnt that family means more than blood.’ – C, Intercountry adoptee

Tracing and Intermediary Services

Deciding to trace birth relatives is a significant step and involves many considerations. A good starting point is FamilyConnect, a specialist website that supports adults who were adopted or spent time in care. It provides guidance and answers to questions about your origins, making it a helpful resource if you are thinking about beginning this process.

Please note that we do not provide a tracing service; however, we can provide guidance and signpost you to services such as the Adoption Contact Register and other tracing and intermediary agencies.

The Adoption Contact Register allows you to record your wish for contact. If both you and a birth relative register a desire for contact, you will receive each other’s details.

If you prefer not to be contacted, you have a couple of options:

• Adoption Contact Register: Record a wish for no contact.
• Register a Veto: You can register either a Qualified Veto or an Absolute Veto with the agency that arranged your adoption. You must be 18 or older to do this.
• Qualified Veto: Allows you to set specific circumstances when contact is acceptable, such as:
  • If there is important medical information you need to know
  • If you are named as a beneficiary in a birth relative’s will
  • If you want updates from a specific person
• Absolute Veto: Means you do not want any contact under any circumstances. Once registered, the Intermediary Agency cannot approach you.

Adoption Records

Tracing and Reunification Advice

If you choose to trace your birth family independently, we recommend starting with a letter rather than phone calls or in-person visits.

Be prepared for different reactions. It can be quite shocking to receive contact out of the blue, and you have to consider that it may not be positively received.  In some cases, your birth may have been a ‘secret’, and some birth family members may not be aware of your existence. We often see images of instant connection from programmes such as Long Lost Family, but the reality is that it can take time to establish a relationship.

Reunification is often a gradual process, and building contact slowly helps avoid overwhelming any party involved. Establishing clear boundaries early is important, as expectations can differ.

Tracing Guide

Reunification story from CCS Adoptee

‘When I turned twenty-one, I felt it was the right time to meet my birth mum.  I wrote to her through CCS asking to meet. Although it was my choice, I still felt nervous and unsure about doing this. I asked for it to take place in an office setting with my parents and social worker attending. My birth mum brought her partner and a support worker — something I had suggested in my letter, as I wanted her to feel supported too.

I went into the meeting with an open mind and without expectations. The last time I had seen her, I was too young to understand that it would be the final visit before being adopted. Re-meeting her was emotional and strange, as I realised we were very different people. Part of me had hoped for some kind of apology, but I soon saw this was unlikely to occur. In an unexpected way, that took away any pressure I might have felt to maintain ongoing contact.

I had thought carefully about my boundaries before the meeting, as throughout the process, I wanted things to be as well controlled as possible. We agreed to have contact afterwards through letters, as that was how I had initially reached out to her. I knew that giving her my phone number or social media contacts would not have felt right for me. We exchanged a few letters, but over time they fizzled out. I didn’t feel the need to continue replying, as the meeting had given me the closure I was looking for. I’m glad we met when we did, as she passed away a few years later.’

Tracing through Social Media

Adoptees are generally encouraged to trace their birth families through a social worker or intermediary service, as these provide guidance, support, and a more structured approach. However, such services are not always available or can be expensive, so some people turn to social media instead.

When considering using social media, it’s important to reflect carefully before making contact. Adoptees should be clear about their intentions – whether they want to build a relationship or simply gather information such as medical history or details about their adoption. It is also crucial to be confident that the person identified is correct, as misidentification can lead to unintended consequences.

Communication through social media can be uncertain. A lack of reply does not necessarily indicate rejection, as messages may not be seen due to privacy settings or inactivity. Similarly, someone may read a message but not respond, either because they need time to process the situation or because they do not wish to engage. Social media can quickly widen the circle of contact, potentially involving extended family members and leading to loss of control over the situation. This can create pressure to engage or build relationships faster than feels comfortable. In contrast, intermediary services usually promote gradual, supported introductions. Privacy and personal safety are key considerations.

Finally, adoptees may also be contacted unexpectedly by birth relatives. In these situations, it is important to set clear boundaries about the level of contact they are comfortable with and to understand their options for managing unwanted or inappropriate communication, such as blocking or reporting individuals.

Emotional Support

Accessing your birth records can be an emotional experience. At CCS, we offer ongoing support and can refer you to agencies that specialise in supporting adult adoptees. If you need assistance after accessing your file or following contact with your birth family, please reach out to us.

Funding for specialist therapeutic services may be available in certain circumstances via the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF). This support can be offered to young people:

• Up to and including the age of 21, or
• Up to 25 if they have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).

Advice from CCS Adoptee

‘It’s important not to be obliged or pressurised into anything that you’re uncomfortable with. Do everything at your pace and only when you are ready.

Get as much support as you can — talk things through with people you trust and use the support available through CCS. Think carefully about your boundaries, go in with an open mind, and try not to have too many expectations. Make sure it happens on your terms.

I know some of these things are easier said than done, and it’s only natural as a person who has been adopted to want answers, even though the person you are talking to may not have rational answers to your questions. Accessing records and meeting a birth parent are big decisions with a lot to consider. I found it important to take time to care.’ – C, CCS Adoptee

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