Genealogy Chat

I am looking for a family member (Aunt) who wasborn 1945 then adopted in approx 1945/6. I was wondering if her orginal birth name and details would still be on the bmd index or would they have been removed because of the adoption. As upto now i have not been able to trace under the name i have or is their any way i can trace children born via the mothers name(s) Thanks for reading, any suggestion would help ps i'm not sure of the Fathers name that would/could have been named on a register

Hi there, I have recently been looking for two uncles who were adopted in the mid 70's. From my experience, they are still on the original birth indexes, and you can get their original birth certificates. However, what I have noticed is that on the index the entry number will be crossed out and a new number written in by hand. As yet I haven't attempted to get copies of the new birth certificates issued after adoption, but I think with the handwritten reference I will be able to get them as they are not adoption certificates, instead they are new birth certificates. My one uncle has told me that the original birth certificate is no longer legal and he has to use the new one. If you want me to do a look-up, PM me and I will. Also, I had the problem of not knowing the father's name for one of the uncles I was looking for. I phoned the local records office where he was born and gave his month of birth and year, what I thought his first name was and his mother's maiden name and married name. The local office called me back within the hour and gave me the reference number and all the details to get the certificate.

Hi Susie My Mum was born 1930 and adopted in 1931, I've just checked Ancestry's BMD and she's still listed under her birth name, so I guess they aren't removed at adoption. Don't know how much help that will be - sorry. Jo

they will be registered in the ir birth name, and that stays for ever, when adopted they are re-registered in their new indentity. if you only know their new identity( or vice versa) , there is no way to cross ref the two

Kelly-Anne, Look under their new name, go the the page (on 1837) where they should be, then scroll to the bottom of the page - their new name should be handwritten there. I've found my dad's adoption 'birth' uder his new name, but cant find his original. He was 14 when adopted so knew his original 'birth' surname, but it's not there. Neither is it under my gran's maiden name. Dad's 'real' dad was allegedly a bigamist. Personally, I think my gran was probably just a naughty lady!! LOL maggie

susie?? Dont get your hopes up with Maggies theory though - its far too simplistic! ..... wish!!

Hi Susie, A child's birth has to be registered whether it is put up for adoption or not. As far as I know, this entry remains on the register. I was born in 1965 and the original entry, in my birth name is still on the register. It has not been altered in anyway. Following adoption, the the child will have a new entry made on the Adopted Children's Register in their new name. This will often happen some months later, even if the child is adopted from birth. This register is kept separate from the BMD registers, and according to the GRO is not open to search by the public. Saying that, I have heard of people who have searched it by going to St Catherine's House but it is certainly not available online. There is no entry for me in my adoptive name on the Birth register - it is on the Adopted Children's Register with all the other adoptees. Kelly-Ann, Your Uncles will not have new birth certificates - following adoption they will have been entered onto the Adopted Children's Register and been given Adoption certificates, which to all intents and purposes are the same as birth certificates. The short version is identical in every way, but the long version has 'Certificate of Adoption' at the top, and has details of the court which issued the adoption order. Please go to this website: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/adoptions/ It is the GRO official website giving information about adoption and access to birth and adoption records. Liz

Maggie, It sounds like your Dad's new name was his old name if you get my drift and that he was hand written in as a late entry. People who are adopted have a birth entry, then have a new entry in the adoption register. Diane.

The Index of the Adopted Children Register is public domain and open for public viewing in the Family Records Centre in London (not available online) The actual Adopted Children Register it's self is under 'lock and key' and very few peple have access to it. Every child born in England and Wales are listed on the birth register in their original birth name. When a child's adoption order has been granted in the court they are then placed on the Adopted Children Register in their ADOPTIVE name. The Index of the ACR goes as follows: Surname in ADOPTIVE name First names Year of birth Date of Entry onto the ACR No of Entry and Volume No (GRO reference) The details on an Adoption Certificate are: No of entry. Date of birth, Name and surname of child. Sex of child, Name and surname, address and occupation of adopter or adopters. Date of adoption order and description of court by which made. Date of entry. Signature of Registrar. Full adoption certicates cost 8 pound 50 if you can give GRO references. And 11 pound 50 without GRO reference. Hopes this helps everybody. Cheers Gerry Brindle

Thanks Geraldine for that clarification. I could not understand why people insisted they had searched the Adopted Children's Register when the GRO clearly states it is not searchable. It must have been the Index they searched rather than the register itself. Thanks again, Liz