How to take off the activation lock on my iPad?

Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be turned off:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support

As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. With documentary evidence that you are the original owner (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple may be prepared to assist - otherwise they and nobody here will be able to help you.

If you have the necessary documentation, Apple have recently introduced a new portal though which you may be able to request release of an Activation Lock:

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support & start an Activation Lock support request.

However, if you are the owner of the AppleID that previously activated the iPad, recovery of the AppleID credentials should be possible…

If you have forgotten your AppleID or associated password, these can be recovered here:

https://iforgot.apple.com/

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to any one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.

More information about recovery of your AppleID:

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

More information about recovery of your AppleID password:

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:

https://appleid.apple.com/

Be entering the AppleID and passcode used to initiate the Activation Lock.

If you were the original purchaser and can prove it with

a receipt from Apple or Apple authorized iPad retailer showing

the serial number of the iPad, make a genius bar

reservation and bring in the receipt, iPad, and government

issued photo ID to Apple and they may assist in resolving the problem.

If the iPad was purchased used or there is no receipt, the AppleID and passcode must be recovered 

It is highly recommended that you make a Genius Bar Reservation to avoid delay at the Apple storhttps://al-support.apple.com/#/getsupport

There is no workaround for the security features of Activation Lock.

Activation Lock page: https://al-support.apple.com/#/getsupport