Adopting and Adoption - With Somerset County Council

What is the Adoption Contact Register?

The purpose of the Adoption Contact Register is to put adopted people and their birth parents or other relatives in touch with each other where this is what they both want.

The adoption contact register is in two parts, part 1 is a list of adopted people and part 2 is a list of birth parents and other relatives of an adopted person.

How does the Adoption Contact Register work?

The adoption contact register provides a safe and confidential way for birth parents and other relatives to assure an adopted person that contact would be welcome and to give a current address.

The Registrar General will send to an adopted person on the Register the name of any relatives who have also registered, together with the address supplied by the relative, and tell the relative that this has been done. No information about the adopted person can be given to a birth parent or other relative.

Is there a Cost?

A registration fee is payable for entry in the Adoption Contact Register.

What is the Eligibility?

You must be an adopted person or the relative (relative includes birth parents of adopted person and anyone related to the adopted person by blood, half blood or marriage - this does not include relatives as a result of adoption) of an adopted person to have your name put on the register.

What is the Process for Adopted People?

1. Contact the Registrar General's office for an application form.
2. Complete application form and return to Registrar General's office.
3. Once you have been added to the register, if a relative has already registered, the Registrar General's office will send you details.
4. You must let the Registrar General know if you change address.

What is the process for Relatives

1. Contact the Registrar General's office for an application form.
2. Complete application form and return to Registrar General's office. You will be required to provide certain documents to prove your relationship to the adopted adult.
3. The Registrar General will acknowledge your registration when he has established your relationship to the adopted person and has been able to locate the birth record from the information you have supplied.

What documents are required for Birth Parents and Other Relatives

A birth mother will need to provide a copy of her birth certificate and her child's birth certificate, and if she was married after the birth of the child a copy of the marriage certificate. Other relatives may have to provide other certificates. If certificates are not available, and the birth or marriage occurred in England or Wales, it will be sufficient to provide full details with the application.

In circumstances where a relative is now using a different name from that in use at the date of birth of the adopted person, other than as a result of marriage, the Registrar General will need to examine evidence of this change of name.