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Adoption in Scotland

Adoption Questions

I was adopted in Scotland. How can I trace my original birth entry?
Adoption Unit at New Register House can provide you with an extract of your original entry if you were born in Scotland. Write to the Adoption Unit providing details of your adoptive name, date of birth and your full postal address. You will be sent a declaration form to complete.

What might be revealed?

• further information about place and time of birth
• the original name under which you were registered
• your mother's name and surname and possibly occupation
• your father's name, if recorded, and
• the name and possibly the relationship of the person who registered the birth.

This information may also give you a lead into Adoption records or Adoption Agency records. You will also be told the location of your Court records.

Is there any simple way of contacting my birth parents or contacting a child I have given up for adoption?

• any person born or adopted in Scotland (or where there is a close Scottish connection), who wishes to make contact with their birth family;
• any birth parent who wishes to make contact with the child they placed for adoption;
• any birth relative who wishes to make contact with the adopted person.

The adoption counsellors at Birthlink may act as an intermediary between the adopted person and their birth parent or relative where this is requested. When the person registering on "Birthlink" is in contact with another adoption agency with whom they wish to retain contact, then this can be recorded on the "Birthlink" form. In such instances, if a link is made through the "Birthlink" register, Family Care will notify the other agency, at the same time as the adopted person and the birth parent, that a link has occurred on the "Birthlink" register.