31-10-14. Issuance of new birth certificate following adoption and legitimation or paternity determination; requesting original birth certificate.

The state registrar shall establish a new birth certificate for a person born in this state when the state registrar receives the following:#

1. (1)

   A report of adoption as provided in Code Section 31-10-13 or a report of adoption prepared and filed in accordance with the laws of another state or foreign country, or a certified copy of the decree of adoption, together with the information necessary to identify the original birth certificate and to establish a new birth certificate. A new birth certificate shall not be established if the court decreeing the adoption directs that a new birth certificate not be issued;#

2. (2)

   A certified copy of an order of legitimation, annulment of legitimation, or amendment of an order of legitimation as provided in Code Section 31-10-13.1 that requires the establishment of a new birth certificate;#

3. (3)

   A certified copy of an order of paternity, annulment of paternity, or amendment of an order of paternity as provided in Code Section 31-10-13.2 that requires the establishment of a new birth certificate; or#

4. (4)

   A request that a new certificate be established as prescribed by regulation and such evidence as required by regulation proving that both parents married to each other have acknowledged the paternity of such person and request that the surname be changed to that of the father.#

When a new birth certificate is established pursuant to this Code section for a person born in this state, the date of birth contained on the original certificate shall be shown. The true place of birth shall be shown if the adoptee is the natural child of the spouse of the adoptive parent in the case of stepparent adoptions. The true place of birth shall be shown for all legitimations. For full adoptions, where neither parent is the natural parent of the adoptee, the place of birth shall be, at the election of the adoptive parents, either the true place of birth of the adoptee or the residence of the adoptive parents at the time of the adoptee’s birth. The place of birth indicated must be located in Georgia.#

Upon receipt of a report of an amended decree of adoption, the birth certificate shall be amended as provided by regulation.#

Upon receipt of a report or decree of annulment of adoption, the original birth certificate shall be restored to its place in the files and the new certificate and evidence shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by regulation.#

If no birth certificate is on file for the person for whom a new birth certificate is to be established under this Code section and the date and place of birth have not been determined in the adoption, legitimation, or paternity proceedings, a delayed birth certificate shall be filed with the state registrar as provided in Code Section 31-10-11 or 31-10-12 before a new birth certificate is established. The new birth certificate shall be prepared on the delayed birth certificate form.#

When a new birth certificate is established by the state registrar, the original birth certificate shall not be subject to inspection except as provided in this Code section. All copies of the original birth certificate in the custody of any other custodian of vital records in this state shall be sealed from inspection and forwarded to the state registrar, as the state registrar shall direct.#

The new certificate shall be substituted for the original birth certificate in the files and the original birth certificate and the evidence of adoption, legitimation, or paternity determination shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by statute.#

1. (1)

   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code section or any other provision of law, any person who is 18 years of age or older who was born in this state and for whom a new birth certificate was established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section may request and receive a copy of his or her original birth certificate by complying with the provisions of this subsection. The state registrar shall require a person seeking an original birth certificate to pay the fee for a birth certificate as prescribed pursuant to Code Section 31-10-27. The copy of the original birth certificate shall be in a form that clearly indicates it is not a certified copy and that it may not be used for legal purposes.#

2. (2)

   If the person who was born in this state and for whom a new birth certificate was established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section is deceased, any parent, sibling, or descendant of that person may receive a copy of the decedent’s original birth certificate pursuant to the procedures contained in this subsection.#

3. (3)

   This subsection shall apply to all applications for original birth certificates for adopted persons presented to the state registrar on or after July 1, 2025.#