Adoption Information

Adoption is a process completed by a court of competent jurisdiction. Louisiana Vital Records is responsible for the completion and issuance of a new birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized. The new birth certificate includes the city of birth, parish of birth and the date of birth stated on the original birth certificate. Vital Records may omit the exact location of the birth on the registered birth certificate if it is stated in the court order.

Click here for Pre-Adoption Birth Certificate Information

Cost for Processing a New Birth Certificate Following an Adoption

A non-refundable fee of $27.50 must be submitted to Vital Records to process the request for a new birth certificate after an adoption. The fee includes one certified copy of the certificate. Additional copies can be purchased at the time of processing for $9.00. If you are unable to provide the original birth certificate to process an out of state or adult adoption, you must submit an additional $15.00 search fee. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Vital Records Registry. Please do not send cash.

If Your Adopted Child Was Born in Louisiana and Adopted in Louisiana

When a child is adopted through a Louisiana court, the court forwards a certified Adoption Report (OCS Form 61) to the Department of Children and Family Services' regional office. DCFS must prepare a new birth certificate with the child's new name and the name of the new parents. The adoptive parent will be contacted by DCFS to sign the new birth certificate. DCFS will forward the new birth certificate and the certified Adoption Report to Vital Records in order for the new birth certificate to be processed.

If Your Adopted Child Was Born in Louisiana and Adopted in Another State

When a Louisiana born child is adopted in another state, the court normally forwards a certified copy of their Adoption Report or a certified Adoption Decree to Vital Records. If the court does not send the information to Vital Records, the adoptive parent or the attorney can submit a certified copy of the Adoption Decree and a copy of the child's original birth certificate to begin the adoption process. A Vital Records adoptions case manager will contact the adoptive parent if all the necessary information and fees are not received to complete a new birth certificate for the child.

Foreign Born Child Adopted By a Louisiana Resident

Once the adoption has been processed through a Louisiana court, the court forwards a certified Adoption Report (OCS Form 61) to the Department of Children and Family Services' regional office. DCFS will prepare a birth certificate with the child's new name and the name of the new parents. The adoptive parent will be contacted by DCFS to sign the birth certificate. DCFS must forward the signed birthcertificate and the certified Adoption Report to Vital Records in order for the birth certificate to be processed.

If a copy of the child's U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560) is not submitted with the Adoption Report and the birth certificate, Vital Records must, by law, include a notation on the birth certificate that it is not evidence of U.S. citizenship.

Adult Adoptions

If a Louisiana born adult is adopted in Louisiana by an Authentic Act of Adoption (Notarial Adoption), it must be recorded and filed with the parish Clerk of Court. A certified copy of an Adoption decree or a certified copy of the Authentic Act of Adoption must be forwarded to Vital Records by the Clerk of Court, the adopted adult, the adoptive parent, or their attorney. A copy of the adult's original birth certificate must be submitted with the request.

A Vital Records adoptions case manager will prepare a new birth certificate and mail it to the requestor for the adoptive parent's signature. An adult adoption completed in Louisiana will only change the person's name on their birth certificate. The parentage information on the birth certificate remains the same.

If a Louisiana born adult is adopted in another state, the court normally forwards a certified Adoption Report or a certified Adoption Decree to Vital Records. If the court does not send the information to Vital Records, the adoptive parent, the adopted adult, or the attorney can submit a certified copy of the Adoption Decree,and the adult's original birth certificate to request a new birth certificate. A Vital Records case manager will contact the requestor if all the necessary information and fees are not received to complete a new birth certificate.

NOTE: Louisiana law requires the District Attorney's involvement for any adult (age 18 and older) name change. The adopted adult must obtain an affidavit from their local District Attorney stating there is no objection to the name change. The notarized affidavit must be submitted with all requests for a new birth certificate after an adult adoption.

Sealed Adoption Records

Louisiana's adoption records are confidential and are sealed. After Vital Records completes the process for the new birth certificate, the original birth certificate is sealed along with the evidentiary documents (court order, adoption report) provided to process the new birth certificate. The sealed record can only be opened when ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or requested by an adopted person 24 years of age or older. Please refer to the section entitled Adoptee Information for Obtaining a Pre-Adoption Birth Certificate for more information.

If Vital Records receives a court order annulling an adoption, Vital Records will unseal the original birth certificate and return the original birth certificate to the "active" birth registry.

If you were adopted and you are looking for your birth parents or if you are the birth parent of an adoptee and you are looking for your child, you can also contact the Adoption Reunion Registry at (800) 259-2456.

If Your Adopted Child Was Not Born in Louisiana

The court should send the adoption report or adoption decree to the Office of Vital Records in the state where your adopted child was born in order to process the new birth certificate. Please contact that Vital Records office directly for additional information on their processes.