Summary
SB-1186 will require the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate for an adopted child within eleven weeks of receiving the adoption report or readoption order.
Background
Adoption finalization is a major milestone for children and families, but delays in updating birth certificates can leave families without the basic documents they need to enroll a child in school, access health care, or obtain identification and travel documents. These barriers can leave a child feeling unsettled and insecure about their place in the family. Parents are unable to secure services and benefits at the very moment a newly formed family needs the most stability and reassurance. This added stress can undermine bonding and delay the child’s full integration into the home.
Many adoptions require a change to the child’s birth certificate to reflect changes in parents and last name. These types of situations depend on California’s vital records system to issue an accurate new birth certificate. Families who have already navigated lengthy legal and administrative processes often experience additional, unnecessary delays in receiving updated records. These delays complicate daily life and hinders a smooth transition for the child into their new family.
Currently, law requires the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate after an adoption or readoption, but does not specify how quickly this must occur, leading to uncertainty and inconsistent processing times for families across the state, some taking between 49-52 weeks.
Proposal
SB-1186 establishes an eleven-week timeline for the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate for an adopted child upon receiving an adoption or readoption order from the court. This creates a clear timeline so adoptive families can obtain updated vital records quickly for school, medical care, travel, and to correctly claim their newly adopted child on their taxes when filing with the IRS.