Archive Website of the UK government

What is an adoption certificate?

An adoption certificate is a replacement birth certificate in the adopted person's new name. It can be used for all legal purposes in place of the original birth certificate.The adoption certificate will also contain legal information relating to the adoption.

A full adoption certificate shows date of birth, place and country of birth, adoptive forename and surname, gender, name and surname, address and occupation of adoptive parent(s), date of adoption order, date on which the adoption granted, and name of the court.

A short adoption certificate only shows date, place and country of birth, adoptive forename and surname, and gender. It carries no reference to adoption.

How to order certificates

Additional copies of certificates will be the same price as the first certificate that you order.

Online
You can order adoption certificates online, if the event took place after 1927. You need full details of the event or supply the certificate index reference. You can pay online too.

• Using the General Register Office to research family history

How much will it cost to order online?

Standard Service

Your certificate will be sent within 5 working days. All standard service certificates will cost £9.25

Priority Service

If you order by 4.00 pm, your certificate will be sent the next working day. All priority service certificates will cost £23.40

Ordering certificates by telephone or post

Telephone

Please call +44 (0) 300 123 1837, Monday to Friday 8.00 am – 8.00 pm, or Saturday 9.00 am – 4.00 pm.

The General Register Office accepts Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Visa Debit or Maestro.

Post

Use the link below to download an adoption certificate application form. Read the guidance notes on the back of the application form before you fill it in.

Send the completed form, with the correct payment by cheque, postal order or credit/debit card, to:

General Register Office
PO Box 2
Southport PR8 2JD

Make cheques or postal orders payable to 'IPS' (Identity and Passport Service).

• Adoption certificate application form Opens new window

How much will it cost to order by post or phone?

Standard Service

If you supply the certificate index reference, the certificate is sent within 4 working days. Without the reference, it is sent within 15 working days.

All standard service certificates will cost £9.25

Priority Service

If you order by 4.00 pm, your certificate is sent the next working day.

All priority service certificates will cost £23.40

For events in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You can contact the relevant General Register Office using the links below.

• General Register Office for Scotland Opens new window

• General Register Office for Northern Ireland Opens new window

Useful contacts

• The National Archives

• Census information Opens new window

• General Register Office