Accessing your birth certificate if you were adopted on or after 30 Dec 2005

Due to legislative changes introduced with the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the process for accessing your birth certificate differs depending on when you were adopted. This page tells you how to access your birth certificate if you were adopted on or after 30 December 2005 

Do you know your original birth name?

What about if I don’t know my birth name?

Does my AAA have to give me this information?

What if I don’t know who arranged my adoption?

Do you know your original birth name?

If so then this is simple. You just need to apply via the General Registration Officer at Southport for a copy of your original birth certificate 

What about if I don’t know my birth name?

If you were adopted on or after 30 December 2005 you should apply to the agency that arranged your adoption (called an appropriate adoption agency, or AAA), who should be able to give you your birth name.

In some rare cases, they may not have retained a record of your birth name. In this case, they can contact the General Register Office (you cannot do this yourself for this purpose) to find out the information.

Does my AAA have to give me this information?

In certain rare cases, your AAA can decide not to give you this information about your birth if they are seriously worried about how this information will affect you. If this is the case, then they must apply to the High Court for an order denying you access to this information. The court will only grant an order allowing the agency to withhold information if it is satisfied that the circumstances are exceptional.

What if I don’t know who arranged my adoption?

Again, this information can be obtained from the General Registrar Office. You will need to fill out form PC2 from the adoption section of the website and will need proof of your current address and some photo ID (such as a passport or driving licence).