contact veto
advance notice
Finding out about your birth family or child can be a very emotional and stressful experience.
If you want warning that you're about to be contacted, or that information about you is soon to be released, you can register an advance notice.
This means you'll be given two months notice before your identifying details are released to the other party (to your birth parents if you're an adopted child; or to your child if you're a birth parent).
An adopted person can apply for identifying information about their birth parents, and make contact, once they reach 18. Likewise, birth parents can apply for information and contact when their child turns 18.
If your parent or child has registered an advance notice, it will mean that your request for information will be delayed two months.
You can leave a message explaining why you wish to delay the release of your information.
The Advance Notice Register is kept by DoCS. See below for how to register.
contact veto
If your adoption order was made before 26 October 1990, you can prevent contact from your birth parent/ birth child altogether by registering a contact veto.
The veto only prevents contact — not 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'll be asked to agree in writing not to contact you.
If he or she is unwilling to sign, the identifying information will not be released. You'll be told about their application for identifying information.
You can leave a message explaining why you have registered the contact veto. This may help your child or parent understand your situation.
A fine of up to $2750 or 12 months imprisonment or both apply to anyone breaking a contact veto.
how to register advance notice or veto
If you intend to lodge an advance notice or contact veto you should do so as soon as possible, making sure your wishes are recorded before your family begins enquiries.
Make an appointment at any Community Services Centre, or at DoCS' Adoption and Permanent Care Services - ph 028855 4900.
You will need to bring identification with you. For example, a photo licence or a combination of either a passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, with a credit card, water or council rates notice, phone, gas or electricity account, taxation assessment or bank statement.
You may remove your request for an advance notice or contact veto at any time.