People who are or who have been parties to an adoption may apply for information relevant to the adoption. DHS and approved adoption agencies maintain an adoption information service.

Adults who have been adopted may apply to an adoption information service to obtain their original birth certificate and/or information, where available, about the circumstances of their adoption. VANISH (see below) provides advice on searching and making contact, particularly for people undertaking their own search.

Adoptive parents, adopted people under 18, birth parents who have placed their children for adoption and relatives may also apply for information. Identifying or current information can only be given with the written consent of the relevant parties.

Anyone applying for information must attend an interview with an approved counsellor.

Other people must seek information about an adoption through the court.