Tuesday 30 September 2014

No changes to access of Scottish adoption records

I blogged a couple of days ago that a major change is now being implemented in England and Wales concerning access to adoption records now being granted to the relatives of those who were adopted - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/relatives-of-adopted-adults-now-able-to.html. The press release was issued by the Department of Education for England and Wales, but I was unclear as to whether the same changes were being implemented in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

As such, I contacted the National Records of Scotland to seek clarification, and they have just replied that this is unfortunately not a change coming to Scotland, at least for the foreseeable future. The NRS has an adoption unit, and its detailed guidance on who can access the adoption records here is available online at http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/adoption-records. The conditions are very stringent as the situation stands just now, and any changes will likely only be forthcoming if the Scottish Parliament looks at the issue in due course. I suspect it will likely be the same situation in Northern Ireland.

(With thanks to the National Records of Scotland)

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And please consider purchasing the great new version of Caledonia by The Libations at 79p via www.caledonia2014.com - all profits go to help fund Scottish foodbanks

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