Adopted Adults and Adult Birth Relatives: Tracing and contact

Although there has been adoption legislation in the UK since 1926, it was not until 1975 that adopted adults were given the right to apply for their original birth certificate – and the chance to find out more about their birth family. The creation of the Adoption Contact Register in 1991 was the first opportunity for adopted adults and their adult birth relatives formally to register their wish for contact with each other. This leaflet describes the rights of adopted adults and their adult birth relatives to trace and establish contact with each other. It also contains links to support agencies for further information or advice.