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Searching services

Please be aware there may be a 4 month waiting period for this service.

Adopted and fostered people searching for their origins often require at some stage, to look at the records of Births, Marriages and Deaths which are held at The General Register Office for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT Tel: 0131 3340380

Any member of the public can go along and conduct a search. The Public Room is open 9.00 am - 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. New Register House charges £10.00 entrance fee and it is usually necessary to book in advance.

If you are unable to go yourself, Birthlink can arrange a search of the records at your request.

The Birthlink Search Services

The purpose of the search service offered by Birthlink is to trace a birth relative. Birthlink has a group of experienced and trained volunteers who will conduct a search on your behalf. This search and any resulting information is coordinated by a member of the Birthlink staff. Birthlink's access to and use of new technology further enhances this work eg. knowledge of appropriate Internet sites can assist in locating people. Birthlink also uses constantly updated database software.

If you wish Birthlink to commence a search on your behalf, then please fill in as many details as possible in the;

Searching Services download form 1
Searching Services download form 2 (Use both forms please).

It is important that you provide as much information as possible about the person or family that you wish Birthlink to trace.

A member of the Birthlink staff will contact you as soon as the search is completed, giving you any information that has been obtained. However you will appreciate that a search of this kind can take a great deal of time and sometimes a further search may be required. In some cases searches may be inconclusive. If the family has left Scotland, Birthlink staff can suggest who might be able to provide additional help.

Birthlink requests a minimum charge of £85.00 for U.K. residents and £100.00 from overseas towards the costs of its search service. The payment includes the entrance fee to New Register House and a contribution towards the cost of funding this service. Payment by instalment may be arranged and people in receipt of benefits may wish to call up and discuss the possibility of a reduced rate.

When you have the information you may decide:

* To do nothing at the moment (thinking time)
* To make your own contact (perhaps by letter)
* To make your own contact through a friend or relative.
* To contact a social worker/counsellor to request a go-between service, This may be through an adoption counselling centre like Birthlink, another Adoption Agency or your local authority social work department