I need to confirm before I pay, that you have my birth certificate

OntarioGenWeb does not issue birth certificates (or marriage or death certificates).

To order a birth certificate you must apply for it through Ontario.ca or look in the blue pages of an Ontario phone book. There is also a toll free number to call (see the Ontario.ca website) if you have questions.

Keep in mind that they will not confirm or deny the existence of a birth certificate, and in order to get a copy of your own birth certificate you will have to provide proof of your identity.

When my birth mother married my father in 1974 he adopted me. This was a legal adoption and my name was changed. I was born in the US. My parents recall the lawyer saying that I would have Dual Citizenship. Would it have been part of the adoption process in the early seventies to confirm my Canadian Status? How could I obtain a copy of the Adoption act that covers that time period?

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My great grandmother was born on the 16th of July 1880 on a boat from Scotland name unknown. I am trying to get a copy of her birth certificate but have not got any where, any ideas or the name of the boat would be of great assistance.

Until a ship docked any births, marriages or deaths would likely be filed under the ship's country of origin. As for the name of the ship involved, check the passenger lists for your great-great-grandparents.

My great grandfather was born in ontario in 1871 and died 1965 in Ontario. I can't find any record of birth. Old age pension would have been available to him in 1965. What type of information would he had to submit to qualify and how would I be able to obtain this

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Can one find a birth registration by first name and birthdate and not surname? Cynthia Foster born Feb 1 1880 and raised by paternal grandparents (Charles Foster & Sarah Jane Carey) in Millgrove Ontario. We cannot find her under Foster in Ontario Birth Registration Index at Ontario Archives. She may have been registered under the unknown surname of her mother.

Yes. You can locate a birth registration any way you like. The index is by surname but the registrations themselves were put on microfilm by area and date. So just locate the microfilm that covers the area and year you're interested in and start scrolling. (If you're using Ancestry to locate this birth registration you can enter any search parameter). Keep in mind that while registration began in 1869 it wasn't enforced until the 1880's and many births went unregistered.

How difficult, and what resources would I view, to prove an adoption in 1908?

[From Cathy] Firstly, are you sure it was an adoption? Before the Adoption Act of 1921, adoption was rare - guardianships were more common. If you don't know which it could be, I would suggest that you look up "Guardianships" in the Ontario Archives to start with. Beginning with the Guardianship Act (1827) and until the Adoption Act (1921), guardianships (child custody without the right of inheritance) were granted through the local Surrogate Court. While not listed in most Surrogate Court indexes, guardianship matters are recorded in Surrogate Court registers, and later, for some counties, in separate Surrogate Court guardianship books.

To identify series that contain these records, search the Archives Descriptive Database (Archival Descriptions search option) using the keyword guardianship* (including the asterisk), the name of the county or district, and the archival reference code RG 22* (including the asterisk). Alternatively, consult Inventory 22 Courts and related officers records, vol. 1, for instructions on how to identify and access these records.

If on the other hand you are sure it was an adoption, then it does make it harder (but not impossible) to find. The Archives holds no adoption files, only guardianship records. Adoptions occurring before April 8, 1921 were made through an Act of the Ontario Legislature and are extremely rare. For instructions on finding an Act, refer to Research Guide 207: Researching Ontario Bills and Statutes

i was born in 1973 i was told that i had a twin brother, but i was also told that he had died at birth. How do i go about finding information to see if that is true.

You can apply for his death & birth record as next-of-kin (see Birth Records and Death Records). When applying for the birth record you must either supply the death record or apply for it at the same time. You will also have to provide proof that you are next-of-kin (i.e. a copy of your birth record showing the names of your shared parents).

Where would I find a birth certificate in Whitby, Ontario, Canada from 1852

Government registration of births didn't start until 1869. For birth records prior to this you'll have to rely on church records.

the david Milne family is in California by 1870 but all children born in Ontario. Can I find either marriages or births for the 1850-60 date. They give no town only Ontario as place of birth. Parents born Scotland.

Before venturing into Ontario research exhaust all leads that may give you a specific place of birth: death records, marriage records, newspaper notices, naturalization records, military records. Look at all the siblings, if you find a place of birth for one you have a place to start looking for the others.

Births & marriages were not required to be registered until 1869, so for earlier births & marriages you will have to look at church records (which means you'll need to know their religion AND the place where they were born). There are some marriage registrations available from the 1830's and can be found organized by county, so you will need to know the county of origin unless you have the time and resources to check them all. Another option is the 1861 census but again you should know where to look.

my father was born on Jan. 5th 1948 in Fort Williams ONTario. He was adopted shortly after birth. HE recently has passed and we just found out that he was adopted. His adopted parents are also passed. I would like to find out the name of his birth mother. How would i go about this???

Contact the Adoption Disclosure Register, they'll be able to help you.

Adoption Disclosure Register
Ministry of Community and Social Services/Ministry of Children's Services
2 Bloor Street West, 24th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9
Tel: (416) 327-4730
Fax: (416) 327-0573

[From Cathy] You could also check out adoption reunion registries. There maybe an aunt or uncle looking for you - even cousins. Here is the best one for Canadians. It is free.

I would like to obtain a copy of my deceased grandfathers birth certificate. He was born in London, Ontario in 1912 before emigrating to UK. Can i do this and who do i contact.

Births that occurred less than 92 years ago are protected under the Privacy Act and can only be obtained by next-of-kin or the executor of the estate (proof required). Births that occurred 92+ years ago are available on microfilm worldwide through LDS Family History Centres, online images are available through an Ancestry subscription. Please see the Birth Records page on this site.

Is it true that once our parents are deceased we are entitled to the information? I am adopted, but my birth mother was also adopted, which prevents me from going back any further. Her parents are long deceased, and I have just learned that my mother died 7 years ago. Can I get HER birth information, to find MY roots? What do I need to access this information? Thanks for your help.

To the first question: Due to the Privacy Act no one is 'entitled' to birth information on any person born within the past 92 years other than themselves or their minor children. The exception is those who have power of attorney over the person in question, or executors/next-of-kin seeking information on a deceased person (proof of death and proof of your relationship to the person is required).

Your other questions are difficult to answer as your situation involves two adoptions. Contact the Adoption Disclosure Register, they'll know how to help you.

Adoption Disclosure Register
Ministry of Community and Social Services/Ministry of Children's Services
2 Bloor Street West, 24th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9
Tel: (416) 327-4730
Fax: (416) 327-0573

I have a certificate of Baptism for my father from the Presbyterian Church in Canada. I am trying to decipher his place of birth (the writing is hardly readable and it is an original certificate from 1901). I know it is from Ontario and to the best of my ability is says Ron Twp (which I presume is township).The signature is from Rev CA Ferguson at St Andrews Church Ron. Searching the other sites I can find absolutely nothing for this, can you help?

Have you tried the Ontario Locator? It specializes in this type of dilemma. You could also try Canadian Geographical Names which is the official website of Canadian place names. Never heard of a place just called "Ron" though so you might want to double-check the handwriting and see if it could possibly be something else. Is it possible he wasn't baptised in the place of birth? Perhaps he was born outside of Ontario. Where were other family members born? Where were his parents married? Where did he grow up? These places may provide a clue as to which part of Ontario "Ron" may be located - that could be important!

[From Terr] -- This could be a short way of writing alonger name due to space limitation. e.g. Region of Niagara.

Looking for the birth record of michael mcmann born in December 1858 in Norfolk Co. Canada. Were do I find these records since Canada did not keep birth records before 1869?

It was not required for births, marriages and deaths to be registered prior to 1869 - it does not mean they weren't kept. Vital registrations were not the primary source of a birth record - they were copies of birth records sent to the government. Usually it was a parish record (church record) that first recorded a birth, marriage or death. If you can't find a vital statistics registration, try church records.

Can anyone suggest how best to confirm a 1921 out-of-wedlock birth to now-deceased parents as a result of an adulterous domestic cohabitation in the Port Colborne-Humberstone area?

Birth records for 1921 are still protected under the Privacy Act. To access these records either the person whose birth is in question, their legal representative, or someone who can prove they are next-of-kin would have to apply to the Office of the Registrar General. Or wait until 2018 when the 1921 birth registrations will be released for public viewing.

[From Cathy] It is not clear from your question if the baby in question was put up for adoption. If the child was, then it will be a different answer as the name of the child would then be completely different to that of the parents - that child would have the adoptive name instead. If the child was not put up for adoption, then that child would have the mother's surname, not the father's surname. You would search as you would for any person with that surname and date. However, if adoption was involved, I would recommend going to adoption reunion sites instead such as http://www.canadianadopteesregistry.org which has adoptions dating back to the 1920's. It is not comprehensive as only people who voluntarily choose to post the adoptions appear. 1921 is when the Adoption Act of Ontario came into force, so it depends if the adoption (if there was one) occurred before April of that year - it makes a difference as to how to search. It could have been a guardianship if it was before April If you think there could have been a guardianship, then you go to the Ontario Archives (there are no adoption records there). Go to this web page, scroll down to section 8 and following the instructions there on searching.

I am from New Zealand & am trying to trace my great grandfather's ancestors. I have found him in 1861, 1871 1891 & 1901 for Lambton County & Middlesex Counties. I have his death registration information - 1904. His parents, however, are not mentioned. Where would I go to find that information. He was Mennonite & his parents are listed as being born in Ontario.

His marriage registration - they usually list the names of parents. Obituary - it usually lists the names of family, perhaps even siblings that you can trace and see if their records mention the names of their parents. There are many resources besides census and death registrations that can be used to find this information.

Can you send me an application to apply for a birth certificate?

Birth certificates can be ordered from Ontario.ca. There however you could order only a birth certificate for yourself or your child(ren). If seeking ancestral birth information you should be seeking birth registrations. Certificates are issued by the government based on registrations, cost a fee and require that you provide proof you are the person in question, their parent/guardian, have power of attorney, or can provide proof of death and proof you are next-of-kin.

Registrations are released for public viewing after 92 years and can be obtained worldwide either from Ontario Archives, LDS Family History Centres, or through an Ancestry subscription.

I have a grandmother who was born in 1921 in Ontario Canada, but I don't know which town. I have her name and month/year (April 1921) of birth but that's it. I think she died in the early 1980s, but again do not know where. I'm not even sure where she is buried. Where can I get more information on her that may help me get further than her name?

For *any* suspected Ontario burials start with OCFA
[From Forebears Research] -- Buy her birth certificate from Thunder Bay. Then use the correct version of her name to try for marriage in Ohio, or check US border crossing films for her parents whose names will appear on her birth certificate. If she died in the US, search the SSDI.

How do I go about looking in church records for a birth record. I have the general date of birth, the town, but no name. will the church allow me access to their records?

It depends on the church and where their archives are located. Most churches would send their records to a central or regional archive after a certain period of time. You will need to locate the church archive and inquire about your specific church and the time period.

A cousin has found a birth record for an illegitimate child, born in 1897. The mother of the child is the older sister of our grandmother. The father of the child appears to be the mother's father! While I am not naive enough to suppose that incest did not occur in "those days", I question if the father would have named (branded!) himself in a public record. Is it possible that Dad's name was entered incorrectly? I have also received information that there was a nephew with the same name as Dad. Is there any way to find out if he might have been the father? Many thanks.

Tricky. If the family didn't care, and if they figured that the whole town knew about it anyway, then they might have recorded the birth truthfully. But it does sound suspicious. I'd look for more info - like a baptism or christening record, or an obit. I have one ancestor who had a child out of wedlock, and who was excommunicated from her church - and so, there is a record in the church records. (From Suzanne Schaller)