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Contacting parents of origin, siblings of origin, or children given up for adoption

Obtaining information about parents of origin

An adopted person has the right to obtain information allowing them to contact their parents of origin, that is, to reunite with their parents of origin, unless the latter have refused to allow this information to be disclosed.

An adopted person under the age of 14 must obtain the consent of his or her adoptive parents or legal guardian to initiate reunion proceedings.

The adopted person and his or her original siblings can also obtain information that will enable them to make contact if:

  • each has made a request of the other
  • the information given does not reveal the identity of a parent who has refused to allow the information to be disclosed.

Similarly, the parents of origin of an adopted person have the right to obtain information allowing them to contact 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.

A parent of origin may not obtain the first name and surname given to his or her adopted child, nor the information enabling him or her to contact the child, unless the child has reached the age of majority and no refusal to disclose his or her identity or refusal to contact him or her prevents this.

Procedure

Requests for contact (reunions) concerning a national adoption are handled by a Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) or a Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS), depending on the region. Reunion requests concerning international or intergovernmental adoptions are handled by the Secrétariat aux services internationaux à l'enfant (SASIE).

People wishing to find their original parents or an adopted child should contact the CISSS or CIUSSS in the region or territory where the child is adopted, or SASIE, depending on the type of adoption. This process is free of charge.

Consent of the persons concerned

For contact (a reunion) to take place between an adopted person and their parent(s) of origin, by law, none of the persons concerned may have registered an identity disclosure veto or a contact veto.

An adopted person or a parent of origin may, at any time before their identity is disclosed, register a contact veto barring any contact between the persons concerned or allowing contact subject to conditions of their choosing.

Locating the person sought

Before the identity of the person sought is disclosed, they must be informed of the request for information about them by the entity providing the antecedent and reunion research services and given the opportunity to register a contact veto. A procedure to locate the person sought is carried out by the caseworker responsible for handling the request 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 them. They are free to refuse to disclose their identity or meet the applicant.

If all the persons concerned agree to meet, a mediator facilitates contact between them for the reunion.

International and intergovernmental adoptions

To follow up on requests to reunite people domiciled outside Quebec at the time of their adoption with their original parents or siblings, SASIE calls on the adoption authorities of the countries involved in the request, in particular to locate the person sought. The criteria concerning the age of the adopted person at which a search request is accepted may differ from one state to another.

It should be noted that in the context of intercountry adoption, the rules governing the disclosure of information enabling contact to be made with a wanted person are conditional on the legislative framework of the adopted person's State of origin. Moreover, in a context of cooperation, respect for the respective legal frameworks is a cornerstone of communication between states.

Psychosocial support

CISSS, CIUSSS, and the SASIE 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 their parents of origin
  • Plan the reunion
  • Prepare the persons concerned for the reunion
  • Support the persons concerned if the search for information is not successful or if the reunion cannot happen

Contacting a parent of origin or an adopted person

For more information about making contact (reuniting) with parents of origin or an adopted person, contact the CISSS or CIUSSS offering protection and rehabilitation services for youth with adaptation difficulties in your region or the SASIE This hyperlink will open in a new window..

Last update: January 29, 2024

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