Adopted children contacting birth families
For most children, it is important to maintain a level of contact with their birth families. The level of birth family contact is agreed at around the time a child is placed with their adoptive family.
Contact can vary from an annual letter through the letterbox system, to regular direct contact with an adopted child’s family. Or the contact can be with previous foster carers.
Many families use the letterbox system. This is usually an annual letter through our adoption service. This keeps all addresses confidential.
Often the adoptive family write to the birth family once a year and the birth family can do the same. Some families also exchange birthday and Christmas cards.
Whatever level of contact your child has, they need your support and help in understanding why they have been adopted.
From the age of 18 adopted children can, if they wish -
-
apply for their original birth certificate
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have access to file information
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request an intermediary service to have any contact with birth family members. They need their adoptive parent's support through this process
If you are an adopted person who would like to trace your birth family, contact us for -
- advice
- counselling
- practical help
You can send enquiries to us via email to adoption@hullcc.gov.uk
Birth families contacting adopted children
Birth family members have a right to request an intermediary service. This service is to search for adopted family members once they turn 18. An adoption agency has the discretion to decide whether to approach an adopted young person or not. This depends on the circumstances of each case.
If an adoption agency approaches an adopted person, they have the right to say whether they want any contact with their birth family or not.
New legislation came into force in December 2005. It states that, once an adopted person reaches the age of 18, they can choose to take out a qualified or absolute veto about any approach made by a birth family member.