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Amend an Illinois birth record for a person born and adopted in Illinois
Once the adoption is completed, you will need to submit:
- A certified copy of either the Illinois Certificate of Adoption (see FORMS in the right hand-hand column) or the decree/judgment of adoption. Note: If the adoption was finalized in another state, you may submit a certified copy of the Certificate/Report of Adoption from that state or a certified copy of the decree/judgment of adoption.
If the certificate/report of adoption, judgment of adoption, or adoption decree does not include all of the following items you will need to submit a separate document and provide any item not included before the amended record can be made.
- The complete name(s), including last name prior to first marriage/civil union of the adoptive parent(s)/co-parent(s)
- The date(s) of birth for the adoptive parent(s)/co-parent(s)
- The place(s) of birth (state or country if other than the United States) of the adoptive parent(s)/co-parent(s)
- The complete address (street, city, county, state, and ZIP code) of the adoptive mother/co-parent at the time of birth
- Current legal name for adoptive parent(s)/co-parent(s) and if married or in a civil union
If either parent/co-parent is also the parent/co-parent after the adoption, their information from the original birth record will be transferred to the new birth record exactly as it appears on the original birth record. This includes name, date of birth, place of birth, and address.
Illinois is a closed state regarding adoptions. Therefore, once an adoption is completed, the original birth record with the biological parent(s) listed and all associated documentation will become part of a sealed Illinois Department of Public Health file.
Create a Record of Foreign Birth for a child born in a foreign country and re-adopted in Illinois
Illinois law allows for the re-adoption of a foreign-born child in Illinois, but does not require it. If a foreign-born child is re-adopted in Illinois and you wish to have a Record of Foreign Birth created, you will need to submit:
- Certified Illinois Certificate of Adoption (see Forms).
- Secondary evidence to the child's date and place of birth, such as:
- The certified copy of the child's original birth certificate with a certified extract or translation
- A copy of the judgment of adoption if it stipulates the date and place of birth
- Other document essentially equivalent to the records of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service or the U.S. Department of State
- To learn more about fees, see Costs/Fees (under Resources)
Create an Administrative Record of Foreign Birth for a child born and adopted in a foreign country
If you should decide not to re-adopt through the Illinois court system and you are a resident of the state of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records may make and file an Administrative Record of Foreign Birth as long as all required documentation is received. The required documentation consists of four specific items:
- Certified copy of the foreign birth record and certified English translation
- Certified copy of the foreign adoption decree and certified English translation
- Copy of the passport with the IR-3 or IH-3 visa
- Name and address of the adoption agency that facilitated the adoption
The Administrative Record of Foreign Birth will list the 4 required items on the face of the record and will be part of the certifiable record. If you do not want this information to show on a certified copy of the record, you will need to re-adopt your child through the Illinois court system and then apply for an Illinois Record of Foreign Birth.
If the applicant is unable to provide all the information listed above as prescribed by law, then re-adoption in Illinois is required before a Record of Foreign Birth can be issued.
The certified copies submitted will be reviewed by Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records staff, and then copied and returned to you with the certified record.
Reinstate an original birth record as a legal record of birth after an adoption
A certified copy of the court order to vacate the adoption must be submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records – Adoption Unit. The court order must be issued by the circuit court that originally granted the adoption.
- The court order must direct the Illinois Department of Public Health to vacate the adoption and to reinstate the original birth record.
- The order will need to include the following information:
- Complete name after adoption
- Complete name before adoption
- Date of birth of adopted person
- Place of birth of adopted person
Request an Original Birth Certificate (OBC)
I was adopted, can I obtain an original birth record?
Public Act 96-0895, which became effective May 21, 2010, makes it possible for an adult adoptee or surrendered person born in Illinois, who is 21 years or older, to request a non-certified copy of his or her original birth. This act also allows birth parents of adopted or surrendered persons born on or after January 1, 1946, to specify their wishes with regard to contact and to the release of their identifying information.
Request for a Non-Certified Copy of Original Birth Certificate – To find this document, see Forms. This form is to be submitted along with a copy of a valid government issued photo identification (ID) and a check or money order for $15 made payable to Illinois Department of Public Health.
I am the birth parent of an adopted person, can I obtain a copy of the original birth record?
Public Act 98-0704, which became effective January 1, 2015, makes it possible for a birth mother or birth father of an adult adopted person born in Illinois to request a non-certified copy of the original birth record as it was filed at the time of the birth.
Birth Parent Request for a Non-Certified Copy of an Original Birth Certificate - To find this document, go to FORMS in the right-hand column. This form is to be submitted along with a copy of a valid government issued photo identification (ID) and a check or money order for $15 made payable to Illinois Department of Public Health.