Adoption Records and Adoption Counselling
Find out how to obtain records of adoptions and details of where to find counselling
How can I access my adoption records?
I am the Adopted Person
If you are the adoptee, you have the right to access your adoption record from 16 years of age. You'll be asked to provide your details, including your birth name and approximate date of adoption. One of our team members will ask you to complete paperwork to verify your personal details to assist us in accessing your records.
Records may be held by local authorities or organisations involved at the time of your adoption, courts or National Records for Scotland.
I am not the adopted person
Court adoption records are placed in a sealed envelope or package once granted and can only be opened either by the adopted young person once they are 16 years old or by another person with the approval of the court. Otherwise, access is restricted for 100 years, even to court staff.
Where to find your adoption records
- If you were adopted less than 25 years ago, your records should be held by the court where the adoption order was made.
- If the adoption was more than 25 years ago, courts usually give the records to the National Records for Scotland.
Advice and Counselling
Our team is available to provide support to adoptee's in accessing their records. We would recommend to seek advice and counselling prior to accessing files.
Other agencies that can offer support
Barnardo's Scottish Adoption Advice Service
Birthlink maintains the Adoption Contact Register for Scotland. Adopted people, birth parents and birth relatives can use this register to note their wish for contact or otherwise. Birthlink also keeps a register of the whereabouts of adoption records, particularly those arranged by local authorities and adoption services.
Scottish Adoption provides counselling and holds records of adoptions it has arranged as well as those arranged by Edinburgh and Lothian Social Work Department, the Church of Scotland and the Episcopal Church of Scotland.
