Birth Relatives Contact Registers and Veto

What is a Contact Register?
The purpose of a contact register is to put adopted people and their birth relatives in touch with each other, where both parties have registered their address and indicated that this is what they would want.  They may also be used to record a wish not to be contacted by a particular person.

Can I register my wishes regarding contact with Father Hudson’s Society?
The most effective way is to register your address and wishes with Father Hudson’s Society, if your adoption was arranged with the Society.  Full details available from Origins Service, Father Hudson’s Society, Coventry Road, Coleshill, Birmingham B46 3ED.

Is there an official national Contact Register?
There is also an Adoption Contact Register administered by the General Register Office.  Please note that birth relatives need to be able to prove their relationship to the adopted person, so it may be difficult for a father to register.  Full details available from:

Are there any other Contact Registers?
An additional register is run by the voluntary organisation called AAA-NORCAP.  (National Organisation for Counselling Adoptees and their Parents).  Full details available from:

Is there a fee?
Fees are charged for the General Register Office and AAA-NORCAP registers and donations assist Father Hudson’s Society with maintaining its service.

What is a veto?
In addition to using contact registers to record your wish for contact or no contact, adopted people may register a veto with the Adoption Agency, which may be an “absolute” veto or “qualified” veto which would prevent an intermediary agency even letting the adopted person know of a request for contact by a birth relative.  Registering a veto has a lot of consequences and so involves a detailed discussion with the Adoption Agency first.