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.
The fee includes one certified copy of the certificate. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Vital Records Registry. Please do not send cash. 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.
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. 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.
