Adoption Records

Before 1927

There were no legal controls on adoption before 1927.

Unwanted or orphaned children were brought up by relatives or friends and in some cases total strangers.

  No formal record would be made although in some cases information may be traced in bastardly orders , poor law records, workhouse records or records of adoptions societies and children's homes.

Tracing these records would need diligent efforts and probably a little good fortune unless there is some indication in the personal information available which guides the search.

Even if records were kept at the time many were destroyed once the child became an adult and with the formalisation of adoption many of the adoption societies closed and their records were lost.

Any  records that survive will be probably be held by the local Country Records Office.

From 1927 to 1974

In 1927 adoption was formalised and accurate records were kept.

Records are still difficult to access as the law encouraged a total break between the child and any natural parents.

For this reason the law prevented access to the records even by the child concerned and certainly for other people.

1975 to current

From 1975 anyone adopted is entitled to see a copy of their real birth certificate, which will include their parents names.

Adoption records are still not available to other people.