Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

Unrestricted

Requesting an Original Birth Certificate

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How, when, and where adult adopted people may currently order copies of their own original birth certificates in the unrestricted OBC states.

What I Mean When I Mean Clean

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Clean should always be the default, while dirty is the defined term, the aberration.

Vermont

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Adoptee rights and Vermont law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

South Dakota

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Adoptee rights and South Dakota law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

Rhode Island

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Adoptee rights and Rhode Island law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

Oregon

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Adoptee rights and Oregon law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

New York

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Adoptee rights and New York law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

New Hampshire

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Adoptee rights and New Hampshire law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

Massachusetts

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Adoptee rights and Massachusetts law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

Maine

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Adoptee rights and Maine law, with a focus on original birth certificates, court records, descendants, and adult adoption.

What’s an Original Birth Certificate?

Most adopted persons know what an original birth certificate (OBC) is. Many non-adopted people do not. An original birth certificate is the initial birth certificate created shortly after a person's birth. For most people, it is their only birth certificate.

For persons born and adopted in the United States, a new or "amended" birth certificate replaces the OBC once the adoption is final. In addition to replacing the original, the names of the birth parents are also replaced with the names of the adoptive parents. Some states may also alter or omit additional information on a new certificate, including the adoptee's specific place of birth.

Depending on state law, an original birth certificate is sealed and remains unavailable to the adopted person, even when they become an adult. If you are not adopted, your original birth certificate is your only birth certificate---and it is always available to you upon request.