Adoption decree
A Decree of Adoption is a document issued by the court and signed by the judge, that finalizes an official adoption. This decree formally states that the adoptive parents are now the legal guardians and parents of the adopted child, giving them all of the rights and responsibilities that go along with that.
If applicable, the Decree of Adoption also legally terminates any rights of the birth parents and establishes the child’s new name.
The adoption decree is then used to create a new birth certificate for the child, replacing the birth parents’ names with the adoptive parents’ names, as well as updating the child’s name, if necessary.
See more information here: How to get your birth certificate if you were adopted?
How do I get a copy of an adoption decree?
Nearly every state has sealed adoption records, which means that the records are no longer available to the public after the adoption is finalized. A judge can grant access to the records, however, they will only do so for legal reasons or valid needs.
If you need to access an adoption decree, you can file a petition with the court clerk in the county where the adoption was finalized.
