Effective April 1, 2018, adult adoptees and birth parents who have had a child placed for adoption in New Brunswick will be able to apply for access to identifying information.
The identifying information can only be released upon the adoptee having reached the age of majority.
The New Brunswick Post Adoption Registry maintains provincial records for adoptions that have occurred in the province, and it has access to more than 100 years of records.
The changes in New Brunswick will affect:
- adult adoptees;
- birth parents of adoptees;
- adult children of a deceased adult adoptee; and
- adult children of a deceased birth parent whose child was placed for adoption.
The provincial government said, “Our government recognizes that attitudes among New Brunswickers about adoption are changing. An increasing number of adults who were adopted want to know about their birth parents. Often, they feel they can only fully understand themselves and their lives by knowing about their biological family. As well, many birth parents wonder about the well-being of the child they placed for adoption.”
To apply for this information, adult adoptees and birth parents must complete a form and submit it to Post Adoption Disclosure Services. These forms can be found on the Department of Social Development’s website. Information contained in the application must be verified and signed by a witness.
Beginning in May 2017, there was a period to allow time for birth parents and adoptees (18 years of age and older) to file a disclosure veto if they do not want their identifying information to be released. They may also choose to file a contact preference.
Other provinces and territories
In 1995, British Columbia became the first province to open records to birth parents and adoptees, and with the addition of New Brunswick, there are now seven provinces and three territories with open records.
The Prince Edward Island government is looking at the possibility of opening adoption information, but there has been no sign of that happening in Nova Scotia or Quebec.
Origins Canada provides links to adoption record information for each province and territory.
I heard that the province of Quebec will do opened the files in next June, 2018!
I called myself to find out, and the lady said we we’ll do it soon! ?