Services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions

Integrated health and social services centres (CISSSs) and integrated university health and social services centres (CIUSSSs) provide services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions to people who were domiciled in Québec when they were adopted and who were adopted by parents domiciled in Québec.

The Direction de la recherche des origines et des retrouvailles internationales et intergouvernementales of the Secrétariat aux services internationaux à l’enfant (SASIE) provides services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions to people who were domiciled in Québec when they were adopted and who were adopted by parents domiciled outside Québec as well as to people who were domiciled outside Québec when they were adopted and who were adopted by parents domiciled in Québec.

In Québec, adoption files are confidential. The information in them may not be disclosed unless required by law. Thus, under the law, a person has the right to obtain, under certain conditions, the identity of the person sought and the information that will make it possible to contact them, as well as certain information provided in the form of a summary of family and medical background. They also have the right to obtain certain documents, under certain conditions.

For the contact information for services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions, go to the Contact information  for services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions page.

When the information is available in the adoption file, the services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions can produce a summary of the family and medical background of a child who was placed for adoption, which they give to the applicant, that is:

• an adoptee or a person who is eligible for adoption but who has not been adopted who is 14 years of age or over;
• an adoptee who is under 14 years of age, with the consent of their adoptive parents;
• an adoptive parent of an adoptee who is under 14 years of age for national adoptions and with no age criterion for international and intergovernmental adoptions;
• a first‑degree descendant of a deceased adoptee who is 14 years of age or over.

A parent of origin may apply for a summary of the family and medical background of the person who adopted the child.

A parent of origin of a person who is eligible for adoption but who has not been adopted may obtain a summary of the information available in the file concerning the child they placed for adoption.

Content of the summary of family and medical background

The summary may indicate, in particular:

• the child’s first names and surname of origin if disclosing this information does not reveal the identity of a parent of origin who has registered an identity disclosure veto;
• the date, time and place of birth;
• medical information concerning the child when they were born and their parents of origin;
• the circumstances of the adoption;
• the profile of the parents of origin, i.e.:
  • age,
  • marital status,
  • language.
  • religion,
  • ethnic origin,
  • level of education,
  • occupation,
  • lifestyle.

The summary may also contain other information about the child, such as the date they were placed for adoption and the year they were adopted. When the information is available, the summary may also contain information about the siblings and grandparents of origin (number of brothers and sisters, age, occupation, lifestyle, etc.).

In the case of an international or intergovernmental adoption other Canadian provinces or territories), the rules governing disclosure are subject to the law of the adoptee’s State of origin.

For example, if the law does not allow disclosure of the identity of a parent of origin, the background and tracing service will not be able to provide the information, even if it is available in the adoption file.

An adoptee or a person who is eligible for adoption but who has not been adopted has the right to know:

• their first names and surname of origin if the information is available and if disclosing it does not reveal the identity of a parent of origin who has registered an identity disclosure veto;
• the first names and surname of their parents of origin unless they have registered an identity disclosure veto;
• the first names and surname of their siblings of origin if the information is available and if disclosing it does not reveal the identity of a parent who has registered an identity disclosure veto;
• the first names and surname of their grandparents of origin if the information is available and if disclosing it does not reveal the identity of a parent who has registered an identity disclosure veto.

A first‑degree descendant of a deceased adoptee who is 14 years of age or over may obtain the same information under the same conditions.

A parent of origin may, when the child who was placed for adoption has reached the age of majority, obtain the name the adoptee was given, unless an identity disclosure veto was registered.

The siblings of origin and the grandparent of origin of an adoptee who has reached the age of majority may obtain the name the adoptee was given, unless an identity disclosure veto was registered.

In addition, the identity of a person who was adopted before June 16, 2018 is automatically protected, i.e., their information cannot be disclosed to someone who asks for it, unless the adoptee consents.

The services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions offer psychosocial support in order to contact the person or people sought, subject to certain conditions.

An adoptee who is 14 years of age or older has the right to obtain information that will make it possible for them to contact their parents of origin. If they are under 14 years of age, they have the right to obtain the information with the consent of their adoptive parents or legal guardian. In both cases, the parents of origin must have given their consent beforehand allowing the adoptee to obtain the information that will make it possible for them to contact them.

An adoptee may also obtain the information that will make it possible for them to contact their siblings of origin who have reached the age of majority and their grandparents of origin provided they consent to it and the information does not disclose the identity of a parent who has registered an identity disclosure veto.

A parent of origin may obtain the information that will make it possible for them to contact the child they placed for adoption who has reached the age of majority, unless a contact veto was registered.

The siblings of origin and a grandparent of origin of an adoptee who has reached the age of majority may apply to obtain the information that would allow them to contact the adoptee provided the adoptee consents to it and the information does not disclose the identity of a parent who has registered an identity disclosure veto.

Locating the person sought

Before the identity of the person sought is disclosed, they are informed by the services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions of the application concerning them and are given the opportunity to register a contact veto. The steps to locate a person who is sought are taken by the employee responsible for processing the application based on the identity information in the adoption file.

To respond to applications from people who were domiciled outside Québec at the time of their adoption for reunions with their parents, grandparents or siblings of origin, the SASIE collaborates with the adoption authorities of the States concerned by the application, in particular to locate the person sought.

Note that, in this context, the disclosure of information making it possible to contact the adoptee, the parent of origin or another person who is sought requires the consent of that person, unless, as the case may be, the law of the adoptee’s State of origin provides otherwise.

If all the people concerned agree to meet, an employee facilitates contact between them with a view to a reunion.

The services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions offer short‑term psychosocial support in order to:

• help people decide if they agree to participate in the reunion;
• act as an intermediary between the adoptee and their parents, grandparents or siblings of origin;
• prepare the reunion;
• prepare people for the reunion;
• support people if the person sought could not be found or if a reunion is not possible;
• refer people to help and support services according to their needs.

The services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions can assist a person who wishes to register an identity disclosure veto within 30 days of the child’s birth or who wishes to withdraw an identity disclosure or contact veto.

Since June 8, 2024:

All identity disclosure vetoes for a parent of origin cease to have effect on the adoptee’s 18th birthday or, if the parent of origin dies before this, on the first anniversary of their death.

Identity disclosure vetoes registered by the parents of origin and concerning adoptions that took place before June 16, 2018 will no longer be valid as of the adoptee’s 18th birthday;

Identity disclosure vetoes registered by a parent of origin in the year following the child’s birth, from June 16, 2018 to June 7, 2024, will remain effective until the age of majority of the child who was given up for adoption, unless the parent of origin withdraws them;

Identity disclosure vetoes registered by a parent of origin as of June 8, 2024 within 30 days of the child’s birth will be effective until the age of majority of the child who was given up for adoption, unless the parent of origin withdraws them.

Therefore, before their identity is disclosed, the parent of origin will be contacted to be informed of the legal changes regarding the disclosure of their identity and will be asked to register, maintain or withdraw a contact veto, if applicable. If the parent of origin changes their mind, they can contact the relevant service relating to research into family and medical background and reunions to withdraw their contact veto.

A contact veto is automatically assigned to a person who is being sought who cannot be found or who is unable to express their desire to start or continue a reunion process. In the event that the person is found or becomes capable of expressing their wishes again, they will be asked to maintain or withdraw the veto.

In the case of an international or intergovernmental adoption, the legislation of the adoptee’s State of origin must also be considered.

Under the Regulation respecting access to a copy of the original birth certificate and adoption judgments for the purposes of article 583 of the Civil Code, an adopted person or a deceased first-degree descendant aged 14 or over may obtain a copy of his or her original birth certificate from the Registrar of Civil Status or any other organization or person that holds it, and a copy of the adoption judgments from the clerk's office of the district court where the judgments were rendered.

To do so, she must obtain an attestation from the SASIE or the establishment concerned, as the case may be. This attestation must confirm, as the case may be, the applicant's status as an adoptee or as a first-degree descendant of the deceased adoptee, and confirm whether the applicant can obtain his or her original name, the name of his or her original parents or information enabling him or her to contact them, including, in the latter case, the conditions authorizing him or her to do so.

For more information on research into family and medical background and reunions relating to adoption, contact the services relating to research into family and medical background and reunions.

For more information about the search for origins in international and intergovernmental adoptions (other Canadian provinces or territories), see the information document for adoptees.

For more information about the search for origins in national adoption, see the information document for adoptees.

For more information on direct-to-consumer genetic testing in the context of adoption, visit the page Direct-to-consumer DNA test kits: getting answers about your ancestry, medical history, and biological relatives.

To register or withdraw an identity disclosure veto, consult the registration or withdrawal of an identity disclosure veto form.

The completed and signed form along with all the documents requested must be sent to the relevant service relating to research into family and medical background and reunions.

To register or withdraw a contact veto, consult the registration or withdrawal of a contact disclosure veto form.

The completed and signed form along with all the documents requested must be sent to the relevant service relating to research into family and medical background and reunions.

To submit an application for research into family and medical background and reunions, consult the application form for research into family and medical background and reunions.

An adoptee or a person who is eligible for adoption but who has not been adopted who has submitted an application since June 16, 2018, who has obtained services and who wishes to submit a new application under the provisions of the Act respecting family law reform with regard to filiation and amending the Civil Code in relation to personality rights and civil status may submit a simplified application. To do so, consult the simplified application form for research into family and medical background and reunions.

You may file an application each year to carry out a death verification concerning a person for whom an identity disclosure application was submitted more than 12 months ago. To do so, consult the Application for death verification form.