Finding my adopted half brother

[california dreamin]

If I'm reading this - https://www.gov.uk/adoption-records/intermediary-agencies - correctly, it says "you can" use an intermediary.  To me, "you can" means it's an option and "it is advised" means that it's suggested as a wiser course of action.  I don't read this as the government saying an intermediary is a better way.

Hi Shelly,
I know this will sound odd, but yes there is certain information that will only be released to an official intermediary so they are an necessity here in the UK.  So we're not talking about obtaining your adoption certificate or original birth cert (if you have managed to locate it) it's the guardian ad litem report or any court adoption information that has been written.  The intermediary has to present your case to the court to get the report released and even then the court may only decide to release edited information to your intermediary. 

I work on a family history helpdesk and currently we are being besieged by folk looking for either their own birth mother/father or other close family. I think this is because we have a TV show here called 'Long Lost Family' which is showing at the moment.  Whilst we can do some sleuthing based on what an individual tell us with regard to their birth- really they need these court records for a fuller picture of their adoption.  I had one young chap last week desperate to find his birth father, sadly his information was very incomplete and I could not move his search on any further.

CD

[carol8353]

I have a good friend who was born in 1949 and had no idea till he was in his mid 30's that he was adopted. He was at the old family record centre killing time whilst a friend applied for his birth cert. So my pal looked in the indexes for his.........he wasn't there. He asked at the desk and was told he would have to have an interview with someone as it may be that he was adopted.

What a shock!!!

I have since found his birth family,although his mum had died a year before he went looking for her.

" Since 1975 adopted people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have had the right to see their original birth certificate when they reach the age of 18  (in Scotland the age is 16 and this right has existed since legal adoption was first introduced)."

[dawnsh]

The London Metropolitan Archives has produced a couple of leaflets which outline their position with regards to adoption files

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fmi/


http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fmj/


I imagine it's a similar situation across England & Wales for the holders of adoption files