Adoptee Rights
International adoption country guide

Haiti: adoption records and family tracing

Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Haiti, were born there and adopted in the UK, or have a birth parent from there.

Research last refreshed: September 2026

Ask the Adoptee Rights Assistant
Adoptee Rights Assistant

Please leave out names and identifying details.

Start by identifying the records and rules that apply

The court, commune, civil status office, crèche or institution, adoption year and names used at each stage matter. Record disruption and transfer may affect some files, but loss must not be assumed without checking each holder.

Begin remotely through IBESR and the UK record holders. French or Haitian Creole correspondence, certified identity, legal assistance, a court process or local representation may be required. Current security conditions should be checked; do not travel solely for records work without authoritative advice.

Check the current procedure before applying

This guide explains the likely process, but forms, contact details, eligibility and access rules can change. Check the linked source before sending identity documents or paying a fee.

Choose the situation that describes you

Adopted in Haiti

What applies: Confirm that the legal adoption was made in Haiti, and identify the date, place, court or authority and institution.

How to look for records: Start with the Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), then identify the court, civil status officer or commune, and crèche or institution. Haiti’s adoption law requires the central authority to preserve adoption dossiers and origins information, but each record holding should be requested separately.

How to look for family: Articles 62 and 63 of Haiti’s adoption law provide for preservation of adoption dossiers and origins information, with access by the child or legal representative with appropriate support when permitted by law. This is not an unconditional promise of disclosure. Ask IBESR for the current adult procedure and use verified information for supported, consent sensitive family searching.

Important: Use IBESR, court, civil status and crèche records as separate holdings; article 63 access remains qualified by law.

Born in Haiti and brought to the UK

What applies: Establish whether the legal adoption was made overseas, in the UK, or in both places; keep the two countries’ records processs open until that is known.

How to look for records: Begin remotely through IBESR and the UK record holders. French or Haitian Creole correspondence, certified identity, legal assistance, a court process or local representation may be required. Current security conditions should be checked; do not travel solely for records work without authoritative advice. Start with the Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), then identify the court, civil status officer or commune, and crèche or institution. Haiti’s adoption law requires the central authority to preserve adoption dossiers and origins information, but each record holding should be requested separately.

How to look for family: Articles 62 and 63 of Haiti’s adoption law provide for preservation of adoption dossiers and origins information, with access by the child or legal representative with appropriate support when permitted by law. This is not an unconditional promise of disclosure. Ask IBESR for the current adult procedure and use verified information for supported, consent sensitive family searching.

Important: A UK adoption or registration record does not automatically disclose or replace the overseas birth, court, welfare or institution file. Use IBESR, court, civil status and crèche records as separate holdings; article 63 access remains qualified by law.

A birth parent was from Haiti

What applies: Start with the records of the country where the person was born and adopted. A parent being from Haiti does not by itself mean that Haiti holds the adoption file.

How to look for records: Obtain the adoptee’s own birth and adoption records first. If they confirm the parent’s identity or a locality in Haiti, use the relevant civil registration, archive and family history sources there.

How to look for family: Use verified names, commune and institution with IBESR, civil status and court records, then use a suitable Haiti focused organisation for supported contact or DNA analysis where appropriate. DNA can be particularly useful as a additional option where documents are incomplete. ICAV lists Haiti focused groups with DNA experience, but a match remains a lead rather than proof. Use shared matches and records and consider consent, privacy and the possibility of unexpected results.

Important: Do not assume nationality proves birth, citizenship or registration in Haiti. Confirm full names, spelling variants, dates and an actual locality before making overseas enquiries.

Records and family finding

Start with records

Start with the Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), then identify the court, civil status officer or commune, and crèche or institution. Haiti’s adoption law requires the central authority to preserve adoption dossiers and origins information, but each record holding should be requested separately.

Looking for family

Articles 62 and 63 of Haiti’s adoption law provide for preservation of adoption dossiers and origins information, with access by the child or legal representative with appropriate support when permitted by law. This is not an unconditional promise of disclosure. Ask IBESR for the current adult procedure and use verified information for supported, consent sensitive family searching.

DNA

DNA can be particularly useful as a additional option where documents are incomplete. ICAV lists Haiti focused groups with DNA experience, but a match remains a lead rather than proof. Use shared matches and records and consider consent, privacy and the possibility of unexpected results.

Peer support

ICAV lists several Haiti focused adoptee groups and DNA and search initiatives, including Adoptés d’Haïti, Adoptes Haiti – Wozo Nou, Entre deux histoires, Haitian Adoptees and Plan Kiskeya Foundation. Check current activity, eligibility, costs and data handling before referral.

Practical next steps

If you have no namesCollect the adoption judgment, IBESR documents, civil status extracts, crèche papers and UK receiving or immigration records. Ask IBESR for the current adult process and the holders of the court and civil files.
If you have a name or placeUse verified names, commune and institution with IBESR, civil status and court records, then use a suitable Haiti focused organisation for supported contact or DNA analysis where appropriate.
If the search has stalledAsk each holder whether records survive, were transferred or are restricted, and request the applicable review. Widen to church, archive and community sources and carefully corroborated DNA without assuming all records were lost.
Ask the Assistant about Haiti

Verified sources and resources

Official services and independent or adoptee-led resources are shown separately. Check current eligibility, security, costs and capacity before supplying personal information.

Other verified resources

ICAV — Haiti groups

Haiti focused adoptee, search and DNA group leads

Things to check: Check current activity, eligibility, cost and data handling

Adoptee-led

This country guide provides general information, not legal advice or a tracing service. Records and family finding across borders can involve privacy, consent and personal safety considerations. Verify the current official procedure before acting.

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