can I search for information and make contact?
information for birth parents and adopted persons
before the adopted person turns 18 years
Some adoptees and birth parents want to find out more about each other before the adoptee turns 18 years.
Although you both have the legal right to identifying information from the time of the adoptees 18th birthday, it is sometimes possible for you to make contact with each other earlier.
This requires the permission of the adoptive parents or guardian and of course, the willingness of adoptee/ birth parents to be contacted.
If the Order of Adoption was made after February 2003, there may be an adoption plan which outlines the type of contact the birth family and adoptive family have agreed upon. This could range from no contact, regular exchanges of letters to meetings.
Even if there is not an adoption plan and you have never had contact, it is often possible for DoCS to obtain and pass on current information between you.
Find out more about communicating with your child/birth family before 18 years through our Post Order Support Services (POSS).
after the adopted person turns 18 years
At 18 years of age, adopted people and birth parents have the legal right under the Adoption Act 2000, to request identifying and other information about each other, which they may then use to make contact.
Adopted people 18 years and over do not need permission from their adoptive parents to request this information. For more details see our brochure, Post Adoption: The Adoption Act 2000 and how it affects you
It is also possible for identifying information to be released to another party. In the event of the death of an adopted person or birth parent, relatives are able to apply to “inherit” the deceased person’s rights to certain adoption information. See our fact sheet Inheriting a deceased person’s rights.
obtaining identifying information
If you wish to obtain identifying information, your first step is to apply for a Supply Authority. This acts as a passport to access information recorded at the time of the adoption, from DoCS or other information sources.
For more information on Supply Authorities see our fact sheet How to apply for a Supply Authority
If you are a father of a child who was adopted in NSW, you must be an “acknowledged birth father” under the Adoption Act 2000, before you can apply for a Supply Authority. See our fact sheet Fathers whose child has been adopted.
when your Supply Authority has been issued
Your Supply Authority package will include an application form to join the Reunion and Information Register (blue form) and if DoCS arranged the adoption or holds further information about your adoption, an application form for Prescribed Information (white form).
If the adoption was arranged by another agency that currently holds information, you will be advised as to where to apply for Prescribed Information.
There are a number of steps you may chose to take. Receiving this information can be a very emotional experience. FIS and our community partners can provide you with support, counselling and information.
apply for Prescribed Information
Prescribed Information refers to the social, family and medical information taken from the adoption file created at the time of the adoption. The amount of information may vary according to when, how and through whom the adoption was arranged.
To obtain this information from files held by DoCS, complete the application form and return to the Family Information Service (FIS).
join the Reunion and Information Register (RIR)
The Family Information Service (FIS) manages this register. If you and the person you are wanting to contact have both indicated your willingness for contact by joining the register, you can exchange messages or make arrangements for a reunion.
For more information about this register see our fact sheet - Reunion and Information Register.
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages search
You can obtain the original or amended birth certificate of the adopted person directly through the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Through the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages you can also do birth, marriage and death searches, which may provide you with more information about your birth relative.
Details on how to search are provided with your Supply Authority.
other searches
Details about other searches you can do are contained in the Adoption Search Guide titled “What do I do now?” which is provided with your Supply Authority.
can I prevent contact?
Finding out about your birth family or child can be a very emotional and stressful experience. There are many reasons people may wish to delay or prevent contact, which do not necessarily indicate a rejection of the searching person.
For example, an adoptee may fear rejection themselves; they may not feel emotionally ready for contact or may need time to finish their education; they may feel a strong sense of loyalty to the adoptive parents; or perhaps fear the unknown.
A birth parent may also fear the child’s rejection or judgement; may not have told their partner or any other children; may feel emotionally unready for contact; or family members may wish the adoption to remain a secret.
Whatever the reason, if you don’t want contact, leaving a message to help the other party to understand your current situation and views about contact is strongly encouraged.
Remember too that are available.
Advance Notices and Contact Vetoes
Advance Notice
If you want to be advised that information about you is soon to be released, you can register an Advance Notice.
This means you will be given two months notice before your identifying details are released to the other party - to your birth parents if you’re adopted; or to your child if you’re a birth parent.
Adoptive parents can also lodge an Advance Notice to enable them to prepare for possible contact.
You are encouraged to leave a message explaining why you wish to delay the release of your information to help the other party understand.
For more information about an advance notice and how to lodge one, see our fact sheet - Advance Notice Register.
Contact Veto
If the adoption order was made before 26 October 1990 , and you are an adopted person or birth parent, you can prevent contact from the other party by registering a Contact Veto.
The veto only prevents contact. It does not prevent the release of identifying information about you.
If you have registered a Contact Veto and your child or parent applies for identifying information about you, they will be asked to sign a legal undertaking not to contact you.
If he or she is unwilling to sign, the identifying information will not be released. You will be told about their application for identifying information.
You are encouraged to leave a message explaining why you have registered the Contact Veto. This may help your parent or child to understand your situation and accept your decision.
For more information about Contact Vetoes and how to lodge one, see our fact sheet - Contact Veto Register.
related links:
- How to apply for a Supply Authority (fact sheet and form)
- Fathers whose child has been adopted (fact sheet)
- Inheriting a Deceased Person’s Rights (fact sheet)
- Reunion and Information Register (fact sheet and form)
- Advance Notice Register (fact sheet)
- Contact Veto Register (fact sheet)
- about the Adoption Act 2000
- Post Adoption - The Adoption Act 2000 and how it affects you (brochure)