I was adopted and want more information

You are not alone. Many adopted people have questions about their early life and background.

The Adoption South East Region (ASE) covers the local authority areas of:

  • East Sussex
  • West Sussex
  • Surrey
  • Brighton and Hove

We can offer you help if you are 18 or older, were adopted as a child, and either:

  • live in one of these places, or
  • your Adoption Order was made here

If this is not you, you need to contact the local council where you live now (i.e. the local authority you pay your council tax to).

The Adoption South East Duty Service

Adoption South East provides a Duty service for adopted adults and their relatives, and we will try to respond to your enquiries as quickly as we can.

You can make contact with our duty service: 

For the fastest response, please use the enquiry form. Tell us what you need help with.

Our answerphone service is for people who prefer to speak directly. But it might take a bit longer to get back to you. If you leave a message, please:

  • talk clearly and slowly
  • say your name
  • give your phone number
  • leave a short message saying what you need

Birth relatives of an adopted person

If you are a birth relative of an adopted person and want to contact them, you can ask for an Intermediary service to help.

The Adoption South East Regional Adoption Agency manages adoptions in East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, and Brighton and Hove. We do not offer an Intermediary service.

Our Duty service can give you information about intermediary services and other useful details. Please get in touch using the Duty contact details above.


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