About Adoptee Rights

We are building towards clear, comprehensive information on rights, records, law and research for adoptees.

Adoptee Rights is an independent project created by an adoptee.

Our focus

Our legal information focuses on England and Wales. We also include relevant UK cases considered by European courts, and international information to help people explore records and family connections across borders. Rules and access routes differ between countries.

How we approach information

We start with adoptees’ questions about their lives. We examine the law, research and historical evidence without assuming that adoption was beneficial or that official accounts are complete. We make sources and limits visible so you can explore the information and draw your own conclusions.

Entries distinguish research findings, legal decisions and interpretation. Review notes explain what material was checked; a date does not mean every underlying document was read or independently verified. Multiple publications may come from the same study.

AI assists research preparation and the Assistant’s answers. The databases are growing and are not comprehensive. The Assistant retrieves selected material from the site’s rights and records information, research entries and case summaries. Its answers can contain errors and should be checked against the sources.

Corrections

To report an error, email adopteerightsuk@gmail.com. Include the page address and, if possible, the source supporting your correction. Please leave out personal case files and identifying details.

About this service

This is an information resource, not a support or counselling service, and it does not provide individual legal advice.

There are adoptee-led sources of connection and support. The Adult Adoptee Movement offers adoptee-led perspectives and information about its community and support activities, alongside links to other adoptee-led sources of support.