What should I do if I am adopted?

What should I do if I am adopted?

In England and Wales, adoption started formally by court order, on the first of January, 1927. There are indexes to adoptions kept in the Family Records Center in London, and you can search these, but they're indexed only under the adopted names. If you purchase the adoption certificate, it won't give you the name of your natural parents, but armed with that information, if you're aged over 18, you can apply to the Registrar General in Southport in order to release details of your true birth certificate, which will tell you the names of your natural parents. If you then wish to make contact with your natural parents or other relatives, you can register your details in the adoption contact register, kept in Southport. If there is a match, or if any of the relatives have also expressed an interest, you'll be notified so that you can get in touch with each other. Details of this are available on the Office for National Statistics website.