No matter how close and loving you feel to your adoptive parents, you may still want to know about your family history.

 

Today, adoptive parents are given as much information about their child’s birth family as possible and are encouraged to pass this on to their child (including medical history). This helps children to build a sense of identity.

 

Birth relatives and adopted adults can register with adoption contact registers.

  

If a birth relative contacts the register, details will be passed on to the adopted person if they have also registered.

 

If the adopted person makes first contact with the register, they will be notified if any birth relatives have registered.

 

The General Register Office in England and Wales operates an adoption contact register for people adopted there.   Norcap operates a non-statutory contact register for England and Wales. It is well worth registering with both.

 

If you are the birth parents and don’t want to be traced, you can leave a letter with the adoption agency.

 

If you are an adopted adult, your details will remain confidential and the law now allows you to register your wish for no contact in the adoption contact register if you live in England or Wales.

 

The British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) website provides lots more information and advice on tracing relatives and what to do if you do not want to be traced.