What Happens to the Original Birth Certificate After Adoption?

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, FastBirthCertificates.com does not alter or amend birth certificates. The following is for informational purposes only.

Whether you are getting ready to adopt a child or were adopted yourself, you may have questions about what happens to the original birth certificate of the adopted child. Initially, when the child is born, an original birth certificate is created, showing the birth mother and information about the child. The birth father may or may not be listed, depending on the circumstances.

When the child is adopted, the original birth certificate could be sealed away. In its place, a new birth certificate is created and made the officially registered one. The adoption birth certificate shows the same types of information as the original birth certificate, but it is updated to reflect the adoption as follows:

• The name of the birth parents is replaced with the name of the adoptive parents.
• The last name of the child is often changed to that of the adoptive parents.
• Sometimes the adoptive parents also change the child’s first name.

Other details on the birth certificate may be changed or remain the same.

The new birth certificate will not indicate the child has been adopted. The only factor that might indicate the child was adopted is if the place of birth is not changed. For instance, if you live in California but your birth certificate says you were born in Florida, this could raise some questions, although this does not necessarily mean you were adopted. There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for why you were born in Florida.

For international adoptions, the process is similar. Once your adoptive parents return to the United States, they file your original birth certificate with the county clerk’s office and request a new adoption birth certificate.

Can I Get an Original Birth Certificate Replacement if I Was Adopted?

Obtaining an original birth certificate replacement can be challenging, depending on the circumstances of your adoption. If you were part of a closed adoption, this means information about your birth parents and original birth certificate are sealed away by the state where you were born and/or the adoption took place.

To gain access to your original birth certificate, it can require obtaining a court order. This legal process is necessary in 25 states. In the other 25 states, you have to obtain the consent of the birth parents, adoptive parents, and yourself in order to get your original birth certificate. For closed birth certificates, it is often a good idea to hire a lawyer who specializes in this area of law.

On the other hand, if your adoption was open, then obtaining your original birth certificate is a much easier process. In an open adoption, there is an exchange of information between the birth parents and adoptive parents.

The adoptive parents often keep a copy of both the original and adoptive birth certificates. Even if your parents do not have both birth certificates, you can request your original one through the county clerk’s office where the adoption took place, by filling out a special request form.

However, you may need to present a copy of your adoption birth certificate as part of the process. You can get your adoption birth certificate replacement quickly and easily through us at FastBirthCertifcates.com by ordering it online today!