Birth Parent FAQ

I have lost contact with my family, can you help?

Yes we can. We can locate any member of your family that you have lost contact with or have been separated from.

I was adopted as a baby, can you help me find my birth parent?

Yes we can. TracingDirect specialises in locating both birth parents and lost family and are able to offer advice on how to carry out searches of your own, or we can conduct these searches on your behalf.

How do I start looking for my birth parents?

We offer a comprehensive search service which successfully finds birth parents and lost family. This service is specialised and we ensure that it remains confidential and is sensitively carries out. All you need is your relative's full name and approximate age.

What if I don't know my birth name?

You can contact several organisations for advice and you can find out this information by contacting the General Register Office, Adoption section.

At what age can an adopted person have access to information about their adoption?

An adopted person can obtain a copy of their original birth certificate at the age of 18 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 16 in Scotland.

Do I have to receive counselling before I start my search?

People who were adopted before 12th November 1975 are legally required to receive counselling before being given information from their adoption file. If you were adopted after this date counselling is not a legal requirement but is advised.

Why do people search for their birth family?

There are a host of reasons and each individual will have their own. It might be curiosity about one's wider family, or health or medical reasons; a person may be identified in a will, or an event such as having children oneself and feeling a need to contact one's blood relations in order to introduce the new arrival to grandparents.

What are the first steps I need to take?

We would suggest speaking to any family to inform them of your decision and to try to establish some facts about your birth parent or parents. Such information can be enormously useful and you may find their support helpful.

How will I make contact?

Whether you are an adoptee searching for a parent or a parent seeking a child given up for adoption, we will make the first approach for you. Once this is done we will provide you with as much information as we can. You should realise however, that this can be a slow process and while most reunions end happily there can be delays and sometimes contact is not welcomed.