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The Adoption Process

The California Department of Public Health-Vital Records (CDPH-VR) would like to introduce the Electronic Birth Registration-Amendment Request Portal (EBRS-ARP).

The Amendment Request Portal (ARP) should be used to create The Court Report of Adoption (VS 44) form 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 United States, territories of the United States, or Canada is adopted in California

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.

Please Note: The EBRS-ARP package will have to be printed, certified by the court, and submitted to CDPH-VR.

For instructions on how to use the Amendment Request Portal, please review the Instructional Presentation (PDF).

Pamphlets

Court Report of Adoption

A ā€œcertifiedā€ Court Report of Adoption (VS 44) must have both of the following:

  • Original court certification stamp and court seal with court clerk's signature
  • Judge's signature or signature stamp

Note: Court Report of Adoption forms from other states are acceptable.

Certified Adoption Order or Final Decree

A ā€œcertifiedā€ 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:

  • Original court certification stamp and court seal with court clerk's signature
  • Judge's signature or signature stamp

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

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.

Fees

Please view our current Fees. Requests received without the appropriate fee will be returned to the sender. Make your check or money order payable to CDPH Vital Records. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service.

Please do not send cash by mail. CDPH cannot be held responsible for fees paid that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered.

Processing Times

Please refer to the Processing Times webpage for current processing times.

Helpful Tips

  • Use EBRS-ARP to complete the Court Report of Adoption (VS 44) form
  • 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
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