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Sacramento, CA – Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) is proud to announce that SB 1186 has been signed into law. The bill establishes clear timelines for processing new birth certificates following an adoption, helping families receive this essential document without unnecessary delays.
Under current law, the State Registrar is required to issue a new birth certificate after an adoption or readoption is finalized, but there is no required timeline for completing the process. As a result, families can face wait times stretching 49 to 52 weeks. These delays can create challenges when parents need a birth certificate to enroll their child in school, access health care, obtain identification or travel documents, or complete other important family matters.
SB 1186 requires the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receiving a completed adoption report or readoption order. The bill also establishes timelines for notifying families or the court when additional documentation is needed, creating greater consistency and accountability in the process.
The idea for SB 1186 came from an adoptive parent who shared their family’s experience with Senator Seyarto, inspiring him to pursue a solution to help other families facing similar delays.
“Families who have completed the adoption process should not have to wait nearly a year for a birth certificate that is essential to their child’s everyday life,” said Senator Seyarto. “Welcoming a child into your family should be a time to focus on building a life together, not dealing with months of unnecessary delays. SB 1186 helps remove one more burden from adoptive families and gives them the certainty they need to move forward.”
SB 1186 received bipartisan support and no opposition.