VITAL RECORDS

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 The Adoption Process.

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 states’ 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 “certified” 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 “certified” 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.
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.
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.
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.

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

CDPH-VR processing times may occasionally increase as do the volume of requests.

Currently Adoptions are processed within six (6) to eight (8) weeks from the date CDPH-VR receives the request.

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