General adoption query

[Marmyall]

Hi Caroline,
Thanks for your reply, I'll check with my niece to see what papers if any she has regarding her dad, there is the added problem that he had separated from the family a couple of years before his death so he may have taken his papers with him.

Marion

[MonicaL]

Dawn, as you comment, legal requirements not really any different in Scotland. For guidance, www.nas.gov.uk/guides/adoptions.asp

Monica

[carolineasb]

Hi

It is a matter for the Sheriff of the appropriate Court whether the sealed Adoption papers are allowed to be opened or not, even by the Adopted person.  The papers (petition etc), in any event, are not likely to be as extensive as they are now as this adoption was in the the late 50s/early 60s.

C

[portybelle]

I have another adoption query I would appreciate folks thoughts on.

I was looking up a record of an elderly friend out of sheer nosiness which turned out to be an adoption. As she is still very much alive I won't put any personal details but would like to know your opinions on what I found.

The lady in question was born in 1929. The adoption record I found is dated 1943 when she would have been 14. She seems to have been named after her (adoptive) maternal grandmother. The adoptive parents were married in 1911 and had three sons born 1912, 1915 and 1921.

Would the adoption date be the date it was formalised? Surely she wouldn't have had her name changed at 14? Hope that makes sense. I know I won't be able to trace the real parents, I'm just confused by the dates etc.

[avm228]

I have another adoption query I would appreciate folks thoughts on.

I was looking up a record of an elderly friend out of sheer nosiness which turned out to be an adoption. As she is still very much alive I won't put any personal details but would like to know your opinions on what I found.

The lady in question was born in 1929. The adoption record I found is dated 1943 when she would have been 14. She seems to have been named after her (adoptive) maternal grandmother. The adoptive parents were married in 1911 and had three sons born 1912, 1915 and 1921.

Would the adoption date be the date it was formalised? Surely she wouldn't have had her name changed at 14? Hope that makes sense. I know I won't be able to trace the real parents, I'm just confused by the dates etc.

Assuming all of this took place in Scotland, it may well be that she was adopted privately as a baby (legal adoption not being in place until the coming into force of the Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act 1930) and they decided to go for a statutory adoption later for inheritance or other reasons.

[carolineasb]

Were these events (birth & adoption) in Scotland? I'm unclear what you mean about finding Adoption records.  Do you mean that you have seen the Birth Register from 1929 and it is stamped "Adopted" with a date in 1943?

[portybelle]

Adoption was in Scotland yes. I suppose I couldn't be 100% certain about the birth.

When I searched for the birth record it was not available but had a different kind of reference from normal.  As I was at the Records Office in Edinburgh I was able to see the adoption microfiche which gave me her adoptive parents names.

Thank you for comments. Looks like 1943 was the formalising then.

[sancti]

I have another adoption query I would appreciate folks thoughts on.

I was looking up a record of an elderly friend out of sheer nosiness which turned out to be an adoption. .......... I know I won't be able to trace the real parents, I'm just confused by the dates etc.

If you were adopted in Scotland
If you were adopted in Scotland you can see or obtain a copy of your original birth certificate from the age of 16 years. The full birth certificate will give the following information:

The name under which you were registered at birth. The date, place and time of your birth.
The name, address and signature of the person who registered the birth - usually the birth mother. The date and place of the marriage if the birth parents were married.
You can obtain a copy of your birth certificate by writing to:

The Adoption Unit
General Register Office
New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3YT

Phone 0131 334 0380

[MonicaL]

This lady friend may be completely unaware she was adopted or may never want for people to know this about her....Sure you have this covered Portybelle 

Monica