There are many types of records and we can help in sorting out which ones are which, locating their whereabouts, accessing them on your behalf and, if necessary helping you making sense of them.
In the case of adoptions that have taken place in Scotland, we can advise how to obtain a copy of the original birth certificate showing the name(s) and – the then - address of birth parent(s) or, if need be, we can do this for you.
This is the legal document created at the time of adoption showing the details of adoptive parents and adopted child. In the case of adoptions that have taken place in Scotland, we can advise how to obtain a copy of the adoption certificate or, if need be, we can do this for you.
The legal papers relating to your adoption. Our Court Process service can help you trace these and, if necessary and held in Edinburgh, we can access them on your behalf (add hyperlink).
Many adoption agencies have closed and adoption records may now be held by another agency. Other adoption agencies may have changed their names. Tracking down your adoption records is part of the After-Adoption Information Line service.
NB if the adoption was organised by the Guild of Service or its successor, Family Care please see the note at the end of this page.
If you have grown up in care or spent a substantial amount of time in care, then there may be social work records relating to you. We can advise and help in locating and accessing these. See our Care Connect service.
We hold adoption records relating to adoptions organised by our predecessors: the Guild of Service (1941–1978) and Family Care (1979–1986). It is our policy to make the information contained in these records as available as possible. To this end, if you request information from these records, we will access them and prepare a transcript for you. We do not charge for this service.
Help
out our Thrift Shops
We are looking for a few local people willing and able to uplift
unwanted items from Birthlink Thrift shops and take to council
dump on a rota basis. Please call Jennifer Bryson on 0131 225
6441 for further details.
Watch
a video about Norcap on ITV's 'This Morning' programme
Watch Pam Hodgkins on 'This Morning',
about setting up the charity, Norcap, which supports adults
whose lives have been affected by adoption.
Thrift
Shops
Visit or donate
goods for one of our two Edinburgh shops.
Publications
Guides, books and videos
available with information on adoption.
