The Office of Vital Statistics in most states throughout the United States maintains and disburses birth certificates. Adoptive parents have a legal right to obtain a birth certificate for the adoptee. Adoptive parents may obtain a new birth certificate that indicates the child's adoptive name and adoptive parents from the state where the child was born. Adoptive parents may petition the court in the state of the adoptee's birth to release an original birth certificate, which indicates the birth name and birth parents' of the adoptee. If the legal order is granted, the Office of Vital Statistics will release the original birth record.
Instructions
1. Complete a birth certificate application from the Office of Vital Statistics in the state the child was born. Applications may usually be obtained in person or online from that state's Office of Vital Statistic's. The application will require the name of the child, the parents' names and the date and place of birth.
When requesting a copy of the original birth certificate, include the birth name of the child and the birth parents' names, plus the child's date and place of birth. When ordering a new birth certificate, include the child's new adoptive name and the full names of the adoptive parents. Be sure to mark "Adopted," if required, on the application. The adoptive parents will now be listed on the birth certificate as the parents' of the adoptee.
2. Show proof of legal right to the birth certificate. Legal right includes adoption paperwork to order a new birth certificate, or a legal order from a judge to release the child's original birth certificate. Legal orders to release an original birth certificate are usually successful if the birth parents consent to the release of this information or if the adoptee is of adult age. An adoptive parent may petition family court for the release of the record.
If sending an application for a birth certificate by mail or fax, include a copy of adoption paperwork for a new birth certificate, or send a copy of the legal order for an original birth certificate. If ordering a record online, you will be required to fax the paperwork before any birth certificate will be released to you.
3. Provide proof of identification. Applicants will need to show a state-issued identification card or military ID. Many states will also accept U.S. passports. If sending the application by mail or fax, you may be required to make a copy of the identification and send it with the application. If requesting the record online, the applicant's name may need to match the name on the debit or credit card being used for payment.
4. Send payment. The cost of a birth certificate varies per state. Most states charge an additional fee for expediting records. Many states also deal with the third-party vendor VitalChek, Inc. to handle online, fax and phone orders. VitalChek will charge an extra processing fee on top of the fee from the Office of Vital Statistics.
Tags: birth certificate, birth certificate, original birth, Office Vital, original birth certificate