Adoptions post 1930

[Dennis]

Hi everyone & a Happy New Year:)

Onto my question. Would there be a record of an adoption where the newborn infant was immediately given to the new parents? The new parents being the parents of the birth mother. The birth took place at Homeland in 1945. As an aside, once an adopted child becomes of age can they seek a return to unadopted status?

thank you. dennis

[StewL]

Hi Dennis
There would be records held in regards to an adoption in 1945. Please be aware that those records are closely guarded and usually only the child involved or their legal representative have access. It is possible to see records though.
As for returning to an "unadopted status" I can't say that I have ever heard of that occurring.
Please refer to:
http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/adoptions.asp

[Dennis]

Hi Dennis
There would be records held in regards to an adoption in 1945. Please be aware that those records are closely guarded and usually only the child involved or their legal representative have access. It is possible to see records though.
As for returning to an "unadopted status" I can't say that I have ever heard of that occurring.
Please refer to:
http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/adoptions.asp

Hi StewL,

thank you for the link:)

happy new year:) dennis

[Currie]

Hello Dennis,

I think we were looking at the “return to unadopted status” side of things a while back. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14517

All the best, and Happy New Year,
Alan

[LesleyB]

Hi Dennis

Would there be a record of an adoption where the newborn infant was immediately given to the new parents?

You would need to see the original birth entry of the child which can be viewed at GROS; if the child was subsequently legally adopted, then there will be a stamp on the original birth entry indicating this. The original birth entry is available to view in the same way as everyone else's birth entry. However, as Stew as mentioned, any subsequent adoption papers are not available to public view.

The new parents being the parents of the birth mother. The birth took place at Homeland in 1945. As an aside, once an adopted child becomes of age can they seek a return to unadopted status?

If the adoption was an arrangement within the family and not a legal arrangment then there may be no record of a legal adoption, in which case there would be no need to "return to unadopted status". If the adoption was a legal adoption , then as far as I am aware there is no way to "undo" it once you are an adult.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Montrose Budie]

As far as I'm aware, after the 1930 Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act, all adoptions then had to be ratified in a Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.

That written, if the child was handed over immediately after birth, then who was to know apart from any doctor of midwife who may have attended the birth?


The birth register entry will be interesting to see in terms of who are shown as the parents. In other words a couple aged, say, late 30s, could easily make it appear that they were the parents of a kid born to a 16 year old !


Someone needs to read the 1930 Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act to see just what was stipulated, e.g. did it cover every adoption.


In case anyone is thinking of the question, the current situation is that it is only the adopted child or their duly authorised agent who has the right to view the papers held at National Archives of Scotland. In other words, the records are closed to a descendant of the adoptee, assuming that the adoptee has passed away.

In the past couple of decades, during consultation on various registration amendments bills the suggestion has often been made that access should be extended to descendants, but no luck so far !

mb