In the UK how does one find out if one is adopted? (Assuming one's
parents are no longer around / sane / won't give a straight answer)?

Dear willtingle-ga,

You must first to establish if you are adopted by obtaining a full
adoption certificate, then if you are, you can apply for access to the
birth records for adopted persons (depending on your age, and when you
were adopted).

The General Register Office has a section on adoption and contains
guidance, forms and information.
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/adoptions/index.asp

This is the Adoptions Section contact details.
 
To obtain an adoption certificate
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/adoptions/adoptioncertificates/index.asp

For other enquiries regarding adoptions in England and Wales
Tel: +44 (0) 151 471 4830 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
Or write to us at:
Adoptions Section
Room C201
General Register Office
Trafalgar Road
SOUTHPORT
PR8 2HH

Email: adoptions@ons.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/contactus/Adoptions_section.asp


If you are adopted, you may find these resources useful.
http://www.lookupuk.com/adoptee.html
http://www.ukbirth-adoptionregister.com/resources.php


I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder

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Request for Answer Clarification by willtingle-ga on 24 Sep 2006 06:27 PDT

So applying for an adoption certificate should tell a person wether or
not they are addopted? - makes sence, I'de always assumed that ou had
to already know you were addopted before you could request the
paperwork - thanks.

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Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 25 Sep 2006 00:18 PDT

Dear willtingle-ga,
I have no personal knowledge in this area, but all sources indicate
that the GRO is the first step in the process. Certainly a quick phone
call to the GRO would confirm this. The alternative, as suggested by
frde-ga, is a DNA test but that, I suspect, would raise the difficulty
of trying to obtain a sample and whether permission would be required,
etc.
Hope this helps.
answerfinder-ga

Do you have a birth certificate? If so, who is listed as your parents?

First of all, I'd like to stress that this isn't for me (I stress this
as I use my real name here, and I wouldn't want someone who knows me
to read this and get the wrong idea)

Second: the person has a berth certificate and the people who brought
him/her up are listed as the parents.

(S)he doesn't know for a fact if (s)he is adopted and wanted to find out.

As such (s)he has ordered an adoption certificate as per
answerfinder-ga's suggestion.

I suspect that one of the parents is still around.

(I think you meant 'insane')

A DNA test would give a strong clue