The Adoption Process
The Court Report of Adoption VS 44 (PDF) form is utilized to:
- Amend a California birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized
- Create a court order delayed birth certificate after a child that was born outside of the outside of the United States, Territories of the United States, or Canada is adopted in California
Note: Any amendment request received for a child born in another state, territory of the United States, or Canada, will be forwarded to the Vital Records in the jurisdiction where the child was born.
For additional information please see the informational pamphlet:
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents are used to support the information being amended. Required documents include copies of the following:
- Certified copy of court orders
- Adoption Orders
- Final Decree of Adoptions
A certified copy of the Adoption Order or the Final Decree of Adoption is required when submitting a Court Report of Adoption.
Note: The Court Report of Adoption VS 44 form may differ depending on the state in which the adoption was finalized. CDPH-VR will accept other statesā certified Court Report of Adoption forms.
Sworn Statement
Except for when the adoption paperwork is submitted directly from the courts, a notarized Sworn Statement completed by an authorized person is required to receive a certified authorized copy of the amended certificate. Please visit the Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy webpage for a list of authorized persons.
Court Report of Adoption
A ācertifiedā Court Report of Adoption (VS 44) must have both of the following:
- An original court seal (stamp)
- A signature (or signature stamp) of the court clerk
Note: Court Report of Adoption forms from other states are acceptable.
Certified Adoption Order or Final Decree
A ācertifiedā copy of the adoption order or final decree must be a copy of the order that was originally prepared by the court. It cannot be an original printout. The photocopy you receive from the court must have all of the following:
- An original court seal
- A signature (or signature stamp) of the judge
- A signature (or signature stamp) of the court clerk
Certificate Fees
- If the adoption was finalized in California after 1972, there is no fee to amend the birth certificate and receive one copy of the new birth certificate. Additional copies are twenty-five dollars ($25) each. *EFFECTIVE January 01, 2022* The fee for additional copies will increase to twenty-nine dollars ($29) per copy.
- If the adoption was finalized in California prior to 1972, there is a twenty-dollar ($20) processing fee, which includes one certified copy of the new certificate. Additional copies are twenty-five dollars ($25) each. *EFFECTIVE January 01, 2022* The fee for additional copies will increase to twenty-nine dollars ($29) per copy.
- If the adoption was finalized in another state or country, there is a twenty-dollar ($20) processing fee, which includes one certified copy of the new certificate. Additional copies are twenty-five dollars ($25) each. *EFFECTIVE January 01, 2022* The fee for additional copies will increase to twenty-nine dollars ($29) per copy.
- If the person was adopted in California but born outside of the United States, Territories of the United States, or Canada, then there is no fee to register the adoption and receive one copy of the court order delayed registration of birth certificate. Additional copies are twenty-five dollars ($25) each. *EFFECTIVE January 01, 2022* The fee for additional copies will increase to twenty-nine dollars ($29) per copy.
Note: Any amendment request received for a child born in another state, territory of the United States, or Canada, will be forwarded to the Vital Records in the jurisdiction where the child was born.
Processing Times
Please refer to the Processing
Times webpage for current processing times.
Helpful Tips
- Complete all documents in black ink
- No erasures, alterations or whiteouts are allowed once a document has been certified, (no original entries)
- This form will assist in creating the new birth certificate
Helpful Links
The Court Report of Adoption VS 44 (PDF) form
Amendment Sworn Statements (English) (PDF) (Spanish) (PDF)
The Adoption Process (PDF) pamphlet
(Español) El Proceso de Adopción (PDF)
Directory of County Vital Record Offices
Other Amendment Types
General Birth Amendment
Court Order Name Change
Correcting a Sex Field Error
Sex Change/Reassignment
Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage
Adjudication of Facts of Parentage
Supplemental Name Report
Death/Fetal Death
Marriage