The UK adoption laws have recently changed so that information is now more accessible to parties to a past adoption that was completed in the UK The changes also affect current adoptions. These laws came into effect on 30 December 2005. You can read about these changes on the British Association of Adoption and Fostering website.
UK official web resources:
These web sites provide information about how to access UK adoption information and also provide information about search and contact.
What help can I get in South Australia to access my UK adoption information?
We are regularly contacted by people looking for their adoption information where the adoption occurred in the UK. The inquiries often come from adopted people and birth parents who immigrated to Australia some time after the adoption.
If you are an adopted person or a birth parent where the adoption occurred in the UK, you can only gain access to the original files through the adoption authorities in the UK. We are able to assist by providing information about how to go about contacting those authorities. We are approved to release the information once it is provided by the UK authorities. Contact us for more information.
Post Adoption Support Service
You can obtain similar help from the Post Adoption Support Service of Relationships Australia. They are also authorised to release UK adoption information.