Adoption

The Adopted Children Register is maintained by the Registrar General at the General Registry. It should be noted that the Adopted Children Register is not open to public inspection or search.

The Manx Adoption of Children's Act was passed on the 30 March 1928 and received Royal Assent on 7 May 1928. Prior to this Act being passed adoption did not legally exist. The earliest recorded date of entry we hold was recorded on 10 April 1929.

Adoption certificates

Please note that the production of any records relating to adoptions is at the discretion of the Registrar General in accordance with applicable statutory provisions.

An adoption certificate is the certificate required for all legal purposes and is issued in the name given after adoption. To apply for a certificate from the Adopted Children Register, you should contact the Civil Registry.

Disclosure of birth records

An adopted person may apply for a certified copy of their original birth certificate on application made in the manner detailed below:

Adopted before 1st January 1986

By law you are required to attend an interview with a counsellor from an adoption society approved under Section 14(2) of the Adoption Act 1984 which arranged your adoption. The counsellor will be able to advise you on how to proceed and how to prepare yourself as well as offering practical advice and guidance. Form 1 of the Adoption (Birth Records) Regulations 1985 must be completed and submitted to the Civil Registry together with the prescribed fee.

Applications received from a person adopted before 1986 and not living on the Isle of Man may request the Registrar General to supply the information to a person or body outside the Island, providing the Registrar General is satisfied that person or body is suitable to provide counselling to the adopted person.

• Form 1 - Application for access to birth records by person adopted before 1 January 1986.

Adopted on or after 1st January 1986

A counselling service is available to you from an adoption society approved under Section 14(2) of the Adoption Act 1984 which arranged your adoption. Form 2 of the Adoption (Birth Records) Regulations 1985 must be completed and submitted to the Civil Registry together with the prescribed fee.

• Form 2 - Application for access to birth records by person adopted on or after 1 January 1986.

See also - related legislation

Further information and support for adopted adults can be obtained from the Adoption Team: