Contacting your parents, brothers and sisters of origin or your adopted children

An adopted person aged 14 or older has the right to obtain information allowing him to contact his parents of origin, unless they have refused to allow this information to be disclosed.

The adopted person can also obtain information about the identity of his brothers and sisters of origin allowing him to contact them:

• if they have also made a request
• if the information provided does not reveal the identity of a parent who has refused to allow this information to be disclosed

Similarly, the parents of origin of an adopted person have the right to obtain information allowing them to find their child. In order for the parents of origin to be given access to this information, the child must be of full age and must not have registered an identity disclosure veto or a contact veto, as applicable.

An adopted person under 14 years of age has the right to obtain information allowing him to contact his parents of origin. The parents of origin and the adoptive parents must have given their prior approval in order for the adopted person to be given access to this information.

A parent of origin can not obtain the first name and surname given to his adopted child as well as information allowing him to contact him, unless the child has reached full age and an identity disclosure veto or a contact veto does not bar their disclosure.

Since June 16, 2019, the brothers and sisters of an adopted person may request information about the identity of the adoptee that will allow them to contact him:

• if the adopted person has also made a request
• if the information provided does not reveal the identity of a parent who has registered an identity disclosure veto

Applications for reunions are dealt with by integrated health and social services centres offering protection and rehabilitation services for youths in trouble of adaptation and their families. Depending on the region, these services are provided by either integrated health and social services centres (CISSS) or integrated university health and social services centres (CIUSSS).

Persons wishing to find their parents of origin or an adopted child must call CISSS or CIUSSS adoption services in the region or territory where the child was born. This service is free of charge.

Consent of the persons concerned

For a reunion to take place between an adopted person and his parents of origin, existing laws require that all the persons concerned must not have registered an identity disclosure veto or a contact veto. An adopted person or a parent of origin may, at any time before his identity is disclosed, register a contact veto barring any contact between them or allowing contact subject to conditions he determines.

Locating the person sought

Before the identity of the person sought is disclosed, he must be informed of the request for information about him and given the opportunity to register a contact veto. A procedure to locate the person sought is carried out based on the identity information contained in the adoption file. This procedure is done with respect for the person’s privacy.

Once located, the person sought is informed of the request for information about him. The person is free to refuse to disclose his identity and meet the applicant. When all the persons concerned agree to meet, a mediator facilitates contact between them for the reunion.

CISSS and CIUSSS adoption services offer short-term psychosocial support in order to:

• help the persons concerned decide if they want to go ahead with the reunion
• help mediate between the adopted person and his parents of origin
• prepare the reunion
• prepare the persons concerned for the reunion
• support the persons concerned if the search is not successful or if the reunion cannot happen

For more information on reunions with parents of origin or an adopted person, contact the CISSS or CIUSSS offering protection and rehabilitation services for youths in trouble of adaptation in your region.

• Confédération des organismes familiaux du Québec  (in French only)
• Mouvement Retrouvailles