Adopted Adults

Support and information for Adopted Adults over 18 years old

Welcome to the Adopted Adults team who provide advice and support to help adopted adults over 18 years and are looking to:

  • Obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate
  • Access birth records
  • Find out about birth parents and/or relatives
  • Contact with birth family/relatives

Our experienced team support adults of all ages, helping them to find out about their past before they were adopted.

Adopt South’s Adopted Adults team manage adopted adult enquiries from residents who live in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton local authorities. For people living outside our region, please contact your local authority who will like ourselves, obtain information for you.

Could you give us your feedback or help us start a supportive group for adopted adults who live in our partnership local authorities, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton? Sharing your experiences and challenges could offer you support and a voice in an understanding and sympathetic community safe space.

Tell us anonymously what you think, or be part of creating a new group for adopted adults >> 

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Contact with Birth Family
and/or Relatives

If you are looking to have some form of contact with your birth family and/or a relative(s), we will support and help you with the process and potential arrangements. Where this is possible, Adopt South will manage the relationship(s) between the adopted person and/or a relative(s). This can be in the form of written communication (letterbox contact) or whereby you meet a relative(s).

In some situations, where both parties agree to meet and the union is successful, both parties can ask us not to be involved with further arrangements. However, support for the adopted adult is always available regardless of the outcome.

Frequently asked questions

Please find below answers to most commonly asked questions.

Birth relatives

For birth relatives seeking contact with a person who was adopted prior to 30th December 2005

For birth relatives seeking contact with a person who was adopted after 30th December 2005

For those adopted after 30th December 2005 who are seeking contact with a birth relative

For those adopted before 12th November 1975, who would like to access their original birth certificate, their adoption records and/or request contact with birth relatives.

For those adopted between 12th November 1975 and 30th December 2005, who would like to access their adoption records and/or request contact with birth relatives.

Adoption records

For those adopted after 30th December 2005 who are seeking their adoption records

Related to an adopted individual

For those who are related to, or a descendant of, a deceased adopted individual

Additional Information

Our Adoption Support Advice and Support Line is open:

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm (4.30pm on Friday) on 0300 3000 001 (dynamic)