Adoptions

[Jane Masri]

This might seem like a silly question, but if you don't ask you'll never know!  If a person was born out of wedlock and later adopted, being in foster care in the interim, and I found a likely birth entry, is that certificate available to me?  I presume they don't remove birth certificates in instances like this.  The DOB is 1927.  I expect most people are familiar with the law that birth details of adopted people are only given to the adoptee.  It's just that I have my late father's adoption papers and found a very likely birth entry for him and thought that if I ordered it, it might provide further information.  Any thoughts please,

Jane

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Jane

There is nothing stopping you appling for that Birth Certificate as part of your research.  That child has not been adopted as yet - so any laws on adoption do not apply to that certificate.

Any person can apply for a birth certificate of someone about the same age as themselves, take it to the passport Office with pics of themselves signed by someone to say that is who they are - apply for a passport in that name - and receive it.  How do you think so many illegal immigrants manage to bypass the system and stay in this country - it is a fact!!

Chris in 1066Land

[Frances]

Hi Chris,
I am interested in what  the procedure for adoption would have been in the 1870's. Would there be registers that could be accessed now or was it more informal in those days?
Any help gratefully received. Thank-you, Frances

[Jane Masri]

Hi Frances,
I think adoptions became formalised and legalised in 1927.  Prior to that there was no 'system'.  Family and friends might take in either the orphaned or illigitimate child or they were put into parish-run orphanages or workhouses.  Shades of Oliver Twist!  So records do not really exist prior to 1927.

Jane

[Frances]

Hi Jane,
Thank-you for that information, being as I could not find anything on earlier adoptions I suspected that may be the case. But it is good to know that I had not missed anything that had been staring im in the face!
Thanks again, Frances