Post-Adoption Registry Saskatchewan: Accessing Adoption Records and Birth Information
Post-Adoption Registry Saskatchewan: Accessing Adoption Records and Birth Information
If you were adopted in Saskatchewan, or if you placed a child for adoption here, the question of accessing records and connecting with biological family is one that the province has changed significantly in recent years. The rules around who can access what, when, and under what conditions shifted in 2017. Here's what the current system looks like and what it means for adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families.
What the Post-Adoption Registry Is
The Post-Adoption Registry (PAR) is a government service operated by the Ministry of Social Services. It maintains records for all adoptions that occurred in Saskatchewan and facilitates:
- Access to non-identifying background information
- Release of identifying information (names, locations) to qualifying parties
- Search assistance when both parties have registered a desire for contact
- Disclosure vetoes for adoptions that occurred before the 2017 law changes
The Registry's mailing address is 10th Floor, 1920 Broad Street, Regina, SK S4P 3V6. Applications and forms are available through the Government of Saskatchewan's publications centre.
The 2017 Law Change: What It Did
Before December 1, 2017, identifying information was sealed by default. Adoptees and birth parents who wanted contact had to both register with the PAR, and even then, access to identifying details was restricted unless both parties had consented.
The 2017 amendments to Saskatchewan's Adoption Act changed the default. Since that date, identifying information — meaning names, locations, and details that could identify a person — is released to qualifying adult adoptees and birth parents unless a disclosure veto is on file. The veto system flipped: instead of opt-in access, the system now defaults to disclosure, with opt-out available.
What this means in practice:
- Adult adoptees (age 18+) whose adoptions were finalized on or after December 1, 2017 can access their original birth registration information
- Birth parents can access information about the adult child they placed for adoption
- For adoptions that occurred before December 1, 2017, access to identifying information is restricted if a disclosure veto was filed by either party
The veto system for pre-2017 adoptions remains. If a birth parent filed a veto against disclosure, an adoptee cannot access identifying information — and vice versa.
What Adoption Records Contain
Saskatchewan adoption records include:
Non-identifying information (typically available on request to adult adoptees and birth parents regardless of veto status):
- Medical history of biological family members
- Social and cultural background
- The circumstances of the adoption placement
- Reasons the birth parents made an adoption plan
Identifying information (subject to the 2017 rules and disclosure vetoes):
- Birth parent names
- Birth location and date
- Original birth registration
Adoptive parents of minor children can access non-identifying background information about the child's birth family through the Registry. Once the adoptee reaches adulthood, they can make their own application.
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How to Apply for Records Access
Applications for adoption information are submitted through the Post-Adoption Registry. The process involves:
- Completing the appropriate application form (available at publications.saskatchewan.ca under Post Adoption forms)
- Providing proof of identity
- Paying the applicable fee
- Waiting for the Registry to process the request and search its records
Processing times vary. For requests involving older records, the Registry may need to locate physical files that haven't been digitized. Allow several months for complex requests.
Search and Reunion Assistance
Beyond passive records access, the Post-Adoption Registry provides active search assistance when both parties have expressed a desire for contact. If you're an adult adoptee who wants to find your birth parents, or a birth parent looking for an adult child you placed for adoption, registering your desire for contact with the PAR is the first step.
If the Registry has information on the other party and they've also registered, the Registry facilitates the connection. The Registry acts as an intermediary rather than disclosing information directly, at least in the initial stages.
Some families also work with private searchers or DNA genealogy services (such as 23andMe or AncestryDNA) to locate biological relatives outside the formal Registry process. DNA matching has become a significant avenue for adoptees and birth families regardless of whether provincial records are accessible.
Disclosure Vetoes: What They Are and Who Files Them
A disclosure veto is a formal legal document filed with the Post-Adoption Registry that prevents the release of identifying information. Vetoes are only relevant for adoptions finalized before December 1, 2017.
Either party — adoptee (if adult) or birth parent — can file a veto. Once a veto is in place, the Registry cannot release the filing party's identifying information to the other party, regardless of what the other party requests.
Vetoes do not affect non-identifying information. They also do not prevent the other party from using DNA services or other independent methods of searching.
Birth Certificates for Adoptees
When an adoption order is granted by the Court of King's Bench, the original birth registration is sealed and a new registration is created by eHealth Saskatchewan. The new birth certificate reflects the adoptive parents' names and any court-authorized name changes for the child.
Adult adoptees who want access to their original birth registration (pre-adoption) can apply through the Post-Adoption Registry. For adoptions finalized after December 1, 2017, this access is available by default. For earlier adoptions, it depends on whether a veto is on file.
For questions about birth certificate amendments or vital statistics records post-adoption, eHealth Saskatchewan can be reached at 1-800-667-7551.
For Adoptive Parents: Talking to Your Child About Their History
Saskatchewan's adoption framework increasingly emphasizes openness and identity continuity for children. Adoptive parents are encouraged to maintain whatever level of connection is safe and appropriate with birth family members, and to preserve cultural connections — particularly for Indigenous children.
The Post-Adoption Registry is a resource your child may want to use as an adult. Understanding how it works, what information it holds, and when it becomes accessible helps you have informed conversations with your child about their history as they grow up.
For a complete overview of the adoption process in Saskatchewan — from the initial orientation through to post-adoption services and record access — the Saskatchewan Adoption Process Guide covers every stage of the journey.
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