Can an adopted child undo the adoption?

If you were adopted as a child, you can ask the court to undo the adoption. This is called revoking the adoption. The adoption can only be revoked if you make the request when you are 20, 21 or 22 years old.

Consequences of revoking the adoption

Revoking the adoption means you are no longer the child of your adoptive parents. Instead you again become the child of your original legal parent(s).

Making a request to revoke the adoption

A request to revoke the adoption must be made to the civil-law sector of the court. You will need a lawyer to do this on your behalf. The court decides whether your request will be granted.

The parents cannot undo the adoption

Neither the birth parents nor the adoptive parents can make a request to revoke the adoption.