Adoption and divorce records
Adoption records and certificates of adoption
The Register Office in the district where the adopted person was born will only hold the original birth record. This will show that the person was adopted.
The Adopted Children Register is kept by the General Register Office. It contains a record of every person who has been adopted through a court in England or Wales since 1st January 1927.
To get a copy, apply online at GOV.uk or send an application form to:
General Register Office
Adoptions Section
Smedley Hydro
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2HH
Divorce Records
We do not hold any divorce records, but findmypast contains the index to divorce and matrimonial causes 1858 to 1903. Free access is available at any of our libraries.
The National Archives have a guide on divorce records.
Name changes on records
The National archives have produced a guide to looking for records of changes of name.