International adoption country guide
Latvia: adoption records and family tracing
Practical guidance for adoptees based in the UK who were adopted in Latvia, 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
Start by identifying the records and rules that apply
Soviet-era cases, deportations, border/name changes and archival language matter.
Raduraksti is usable online from the UK. Archive research and Population Register requests may require specific legal basis or local procedures; current rules should be checked before advising.
Check the current procedure before applyingThis 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 Latvia
What applies: First establish the date and place of the legal adoption in Latvia, and identify the original birth/civil, adoption, court, agency or welfare records separately.
How to look for records: Use the Ministry/civil register process for the adult adoptee's birth register record; Population Register requests may help with later location data where legally available.
How to look for family: Use the adult birth register/civil register process and Ministry of Welfare adoption information first. Once a biological identity and locality are known, use the Latvian National Archives and Raduraksti. Raduraksti contains digitised genealogy collections including church books, revision lists, house books and a 1918-1940 residents database.
Important: Do not assume that access to one Latvia record repository gives access to the whole adoption file. Historic law and record survival may differ from the current adult process.
Born in Latvia and brought to the UK to be adopted
What applies: First establish whether the legal adoption was completed in Latvia or in the UK. If that is unknown, keep both procedures open rather than assuming where the adoption order was made.
How to look for records: Use the Latvia birth/civil and before adoption record procedures described for this country, while separately tracing the UK adoption/receiving-agency, local authority, court and immigration trail.
How to look for family: Use the adult birth register/civil register process and Ministry of Welfare adoption information first. Once a biological identity and locality are known, use the Latvian National Archives and Raduraksti. Raduraksti contains digitised genealogy collections including church books, revision lists, house books and a 1918-1940 residents database.
Important: The original birth-country record and the later UK adoption/recognition record are different sources. Nationality of the adopters does not determine where the original birth record is held.
One parent was from Latvia
What applies: Do not process this as an intercountry-adoption record case unless the user's own adoption occurred there. Start with the verified identity of the parent and the strongest known place/date in Latvia.
How to look for records: Use civil registration, archives and genealogy resources for Latvia once the parent's identity and locality are established. Adoption-specific authorities are relevant only if the parent's own adoption/history makes them so.
How to look for family: Use the adult birth register/civil register process and Ministry of Welfare adoption information first. Once a biological identity and locality are known, use the Latvian National Archives and Raduraksti. Raduraksti contains digitised genealogy collections including church books, revision lists, house books and a 1918-1940 residents database.
Important: A parent being from this country does not by itself create an entitlement to adoption records. Living-person privacy and civil registration access rules may restrict what can be obtained.
Records and family finding
Start with records
Use the Ministry/civil register process for the adult adoptee's birth register record; Population Register requests may help with later location data where legally available.
Looking for family
Use the adult birth register/civil register process and Ministry of Welfare adoption information first. Once a biological identity and locality are known, use the Latvian National Archives and Raduraksti. Raduraksti contains digitised genealogy collections including church books, revision lists, house books and a 1918-1940 residents database.
DNA
Use DNA as a separate source of evidence, not as proof by itself. Prefer multiple matches/shared match analysis plus documentary evidence. Country-specific DNA programmes are listed where verified.
Peer support
No nationwide Latvia adult adoptee tracing organisation equivalent to PAC-UK was verified. Peer/community groups should be checked for current information separately.
Practical next steps
If you have no namesUse the civil/adoption record process first to establish the biological surname and locality.
If you have a name or placeSearch Raduraksti and the Latvian National Archives using surname, parish/town and historic address information.
If the search has stalledCheck Russian, German and Latvian spellings, Soviet-era administrative changes and deportation/migration history where relevant.
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.
Official records and authorities
Adult birth register access pointers, civil registry and Population Register contacts
Things to check: Population Register access to another person's data requires legal basis/motivated request
Other verified resources
Raduraksti and archive guidance for genealogy
Things to check: Archive states genealogical research applications are suspended; use reading room/online tools
Church books, revision lists, house books and historical residents data
Things to check: Historical sources; not an adoption tracing service
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.
← Return to all researched countries