contact your child after the adoption
If you have a child who was adopted and is now over 18, you can request information about them which will identify them enough for you to make contact.
Its also possible to stay or get in contact before your child turns 18, if both your child and their adoptive parents are willing. See Post Order Support Services for more details, or see our explanation of the Adoption Act 2000 for a legal outline of your rights.
A. obtain a supply authority
Your first step is to apply to DoCS for a “supply authority”. This acts as a "passport” to give you access to other information you may want or need from DoCS or other information sources.
Importantly, the supply authority will contain identifying information about your child’'s adoptive placement. Attached to the supply authority is a copy of your child’s Memorandum of Adoption. This contains identifying details of all the parties at the time of the adoption: yourself, your child and the adoptive parents.
how to obtain a supply authority
- Download the supply authority application form, or call Adoption and Permanent Care Services on 02 8855 4900 for a copy
- Send your application form with cheque (see fees) and identification documents.
You will need certified copies of two forms of identification, for example, a photo drivers license, Medicare card, passport, or birth certificate, plus any evidence of change of name by marriage or other forms of name change.
All identification including evidence of change of name and photocopy of both sides of a Health Care Card, if applicable, must be certified as "a true copy of the original document" by a Justice of the Peace (JP) or a person of repute within the community, such as a doctor, solicitor, chemist.
If applying in person the identification will be sighted by an officer of the Adoption and Permanent Care Services - Parramatta.
Post the application to:
Adoption and Permanent Care Services
PO Box 3485
PARRAMATTA 2124
or apply in person at:
Level 9, Signature Tower
2-10 Wentworth Street
PARRAMATTA NSW 2150
fees for supply authority
- $135 package fee which includes the supply authority, an Adoption Search Guide, registration on our Reunion and Information Register, and Prescribed Information (social and medical information from the adoption file).
- $60 reduced fee for people on a Veterans Affairs (VA) TPI pension. A photocopy of both sides of your VA card needs to accompany your application.
- $35 reduced fee for people who are former wards or for people on a Commonwealth pension or benefit who hold a health care card.
B. go to Births Deaths & Marriages
After the supply authority has been issued, you can obtain your child’s amended birth certificate from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
This will show your child’s adoptive name and the names of the adoptive parents.
You will need to send, or take in person, a copy of your supply authority and two certified copies of your current identification.
Any certificates from Births, Deaths and Marriages cost extra.
C. obtain more information
You can make additional searches about your child at the Registry, such as marriage or death searches .
You are entitled to information and documents from files held by DoCS or the private adoption agency or other organisation which arranged the adoption, the Supreme Court or the hospital where your child was born. This is called "prescribed information".
D. make contact
You may search and make contact with your child with this identifying information unless they have registered a contact veto. If your child has registered a contact veto, you can still obtain identifying information and their amended birth certificate, as long as you agree in writing not to make contact.
A fine of up to $2750 or twelve months imprisonment or both apply to anyone breaking a contact veto agreement.
You can also request advance notice, to help you prepare for any contact from your child. Find out more about advance notice.
information about a child under 18 years
If your child is still under 18, you can obtain certain non-identifying information and documents from files held by DoCS or the private adoption agency which arranged the adoption.
See DoCS' Post Order Support Service or contact DoCS Adoptions and Permanent Care Services on 02 8855 4900.
reunion & information register
DoCS runs a “Reunion and Information Register” which allows you to leave or obtain some information without direct contact with your child.
You can put your name on the register if you want contact but don't wish to search yourself.
If your child also registers for contact you will be put in touch. You can also leave a message even if you don't want to have contact.
Once your name is entered on the register, you'll be informed if the agency became aware of the death of your child or if your child’s relationship with their adoptive parents has broken down and your child is living separately from the adoptive family.