Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Accessing adoption records  (Read 400 times)

Offline Micfairs

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 6
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Accessing adoption records
« on: Tuesday 01 February 22 19:20 GMT (UK) »
My Aunt was adopted in 1949 by my grandparents. My Aunt lives in South Africa and is not in good health. About 4 years ago we went through finding her birth mother, which we did although sadly she is long deceased, with no other immediate family. We have all the relevant documents for this. Lancashire adoptions office sent me ( as I live in England) the papers for my Aunt to complete. Well 4 years on my Aunt now wants to access her records, she just wants to view her adoption record. Normally a person can apply themselves but she cannot travel to England, so have been advised to get an adoption intermediary, who could act on her behalf and get the records posted. I have contacted a few but seem to get the "oohh & aahh" answer. Does anyone know of a service or had the experience of doing this. To be fair we have done all the hard work prior. We just need help to access the records.
Would welcome any suggestions.
Thankyou

Offline MrsS2012

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 226
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Accessing adoption records
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 01 February 22 20:15 GMT (UK) »
No advice to offer but am very interested in following this thread as my friends father (who is now deceased) was adopted and she would love to find out more about his birth family. I’ve thought about researching it for her but haven’t a clue where to start! Funny you mention Lancashire as this is where my friend grew up (although not sure if her father did).

Offline CaroleW

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 73,462
  • Barney 1993-2004
    • View Profile
Re: Accessing adoption records
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 01 February 22 21:22 GMT (UK) »
Quote
Lancashire adoptions office sent me ( as I live in England) the papers for my Aunt to complete.

That suggests they are expecting her to complete and sign the forms & send them back

Did they tell you specifically that your aunt actually had to attend the office in person knowing she lives in SA??   That sounds very unrealistic

Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Carlin (Ireland & Liverpool) Doughty & Wright (Liverpool) Dick & Park (Scotland & Liverpool)

Offline Elwyn Soutter

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,669
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Accessing adoption records
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 01 February 22 23:08 GMT (UK) »
Where it’s important for legal reasons to establish that the correct person signed a document, most countries have a system that allows for signing to be done in front of a suitably qualified local official. Commissioners of Oaths, that sort of thing, who usually charge a fee for certifying that they witnessed it. There will be something like that in South Africa. The certified documents can then be posted back from South Africa to the Lancashire adoptions office. I suggest you discuss that with the Lancashire Office to see if that would be acceptable. (This must have come up before. I am sure there will be a system acceptable to them that does not involve your aunt travelling to the UK).
Elwyn
Pages: [1]