Tracing Support for Birth Relatives and Adopted Adults

Tracing and contacting birth relatives

If you're thinking about tracing or contacting birth relatives, we can offer advice and guidance to help you decide what's right for you. 

FamilyConnect

FamilyConnect is run by PAC-UK and funded by Adoption England. They provide support for adopted adults and birth families, including:

• Advice about adoption 
• Help with making contact 
• Intermediary services (for people adopted before 1976) 

Find out more at Family Connect

Other intermediary organisations are available. Use of an Ofsted inspected intermediary service is recommended, fees are payable unless you were born in 1976 or earlier where a grant to cover charges may be available.   

Useful resources for searching 

Some people also choose to search independently. Below are a few websites others have found helpful (please note we can't recommend or guarantee any specific site): 

• General Register Office (GRO) 
  Holds birth, marriage, and death records, and manages the Adoption Contact Register where people can record their wishes about contact 
• Adoption Search & Reunion 
  Information about searching for and contacting birth relatives 
• Tracing websites: 
  • 192 (fee-based) 
  • Find My Past

Everyone's journey is different, whether you're just curious or ready to make contact, support is available to help you along the way.