Support for adopted adults

No, there is no fee for accessing records directly from local authorities and Voluntary Adoption Agencies. However, if records are held by a court, they may charge a fee to release them, though we find this to be uncommon. Additionally, if you choose to work with a private agency to access records on your behalf, they may charge a fee for their services.

You’re welcome to bring a supportive adult to your appointment. However, we will be sharing highly personal information that you may be hearing for the first time. We will discuss with you who might be an appropriate person to bring.

When we meet, we will need to see your ID, and your supporters ID if you are choosing to bring somebody with you. Acceptable forms of ID are a valid passport or a driving licence. In the event of these documents not being available, two of the following documents will suffice: A council tax bill less than one year old, and the other a bank statement, household insurance or utility bill.

Accessing adoption records can evoke a range of emotions and be a deeply emotional journey. Everyone’s experience is unique. It’s important to think about whether you feel ready and in a stable place in your life to process the information. Some people prefer to wait until they feel more settled before starting this journey.

You may want to consider having support in place—whether that’s from friends, family, or a professional you’re already working with or thinking of accessing support from as you approach this process. Many people find it helpful to think about their hopes and questions ahead of time, which can provide clarity and focus.

It can also be valuable to have support ready for after your records appointment. Reflecting on the information afterward can sometimes feel overwhelming or raise new questions, so having trusted people to talk to can be helpful as you process your experience.

You may decide that there is some information you may not wish to know, and you can specify this when you meet with a worker.

The timescales for accessing records can vary depending on the availability of the documents and the time it takes to locate them. We are often reliant on other agencies or courts discharging records to us. This can often take several months, and ACE’s waiting times can also vary, we will keep you updated.

When you request access to your adoption records, a social worker will prepare a summary report for you, highlighting key information found in the records. This summary and any relevant documents will be shared with you. While the content of records can vary depending on when they were created, they may include the following:

• Details about birth relatives (though paternity information may sometimes be missing)
• Birth and early life information.
• Reasons for adoption
• Progress reports from social services
• Limited medical history

Please note that older records often contain less information in comparison to modern day adoption records. If you were adopted before 31 December 2005, any third-party information not relevant to you and your adoption journey will be removed before the records are shared with you.

There are different arrangements regarding what information is shared for people adopted from 2006, and this will be discussed by the Local Authority dealing with your request.

Third-party information refers to confidential details about people other than yourself, such as information about birth relatives or others connected to your adoption. Due to privacy laws, any confidential information about third parties will be removed from your records before they are shared with you, if it is not relevant to you and your adoption journey.

You will be given a written summary of information taken from your original documents.

You will also receive a copy of any relevant documents from your file. Where we can, we try to provide original documents of a sentimental values such as photographs and handwritten letters or signed documents.

Birth relatives do not have a legal right to access information that would reveal your identity or whereabouts. ACE will not disclose any identifying details to a birth relative without your consent. If you prefer additional privacy, you can register a "veto" with ACE to prevent any approach from intermediary agencies. There are two types of vetoes:

• Absolute Veto: Completely prevents any approach or contact.
• Qualified Veto: Allows contact under specific conditions you set.

If an intermediary agency reaches out to ACE on behalf of a birth relative, they will be informed of the veto in place.

If a veto is not in place, an intermediatory agency can attempt to contact you on behalf of their clients (your birth relatives). An intermediatory agency is not allowed however to pass over any details about you such as name and address to your birth relatives.

Please note, however that while ACE and intermediary agencies adhere to the veto, it cannot prevent contact if birth relatives are aware of your adopted name and choose to search independently.

The NEW veto information and registration form can be found on page 8.

Please also note, if you were adopted after 31 December 2005, you cannot place a veto on your file, or access intermediary services.

If you do not want to be contacted, ACE can add a note to your child’s adoption file if the adoption was arranged by one of the ACE local authorities. This means we can inform the adoptee of your preferences if they reach out to us. Additionally, you may register a "No Contact" preference on the Adoption Contact Register to further protect your privacy.

We recommend working with an OFSTED-registered intermediary agency to conduct the search and make contact on your behalf. Intermediary services typically charge fees. Be sure to ask about their pricing structure, as well as what services are included, so you can make an informed choice before moving forward.

However, if you were adopted after 31 December 2005, you cannot access an intermediary service.

Unfortunately, ACE does not offer an intermediary or tracing service. Please see ACE’s tracing birth relatives page for further guidance.

You can find comprehensive information on adoption legislation and related topics at Adoption Search Reunion.