2022 Colorado Code
Title 25 - Public Health and Environment
Article 2 - Vital Statistics
§ 25-2-113. New Certificates of Birth Following Adoption - Parentage Determination

1. 1. The state registrar shall prepare a new certificate of birth as to any person born in this state whenever he or she receives, with respect to such a person, any of the following: A report concerning adoption or parentage as required by section 25-2-107; or a report or certified copy of a decree concerning the adoption or parentage of the person from a court of competent jurisdiction outside this state; or a certified copy of the marriage certificate of the parents, together with a statement of the husband, executed after the marriage, in which the husband acknowledges paternity. The state registrar shall not prepare a new certificate of birth for an adoption if the court that has decreed the adoption, an adoptive parent, or the adopted person has requested that the state registrar not prepare such new certificate of birth. Each new certificate must show all information shown on the original certificate of birth, except information for which substitute information is included as a result of the report or decree which prompts the preparation of the new certificate.
   2. A new certificate of birth shall be prepared by the state registrar as to any adopted person born in a foreign country and a resident of this state whenever the state registrar receives with respect to such person a certified copy of the final decree of adoption as required by section 19-5-212, C.R.S., and section 25-2-107 and findings of fact as required by this section. In proceedings for the adoption of a person who was born in a foreign country, the juvenile court having jurisdiction of adoptions, upon evidence from reliable sources, shall make findings of fact as to the date and place of birth and parentage of such person. The state registrar shall prepare a new birth certificate in the new name of the adopted person and shall seal the certified copy of the findings of the court and the certified copy of the final decree of adoption which shall be kept confidential except as otherwise provided in part 3 of article 5 of title 19, C.R.S. The birth certificate shall be labeled as a certificate of foreign birth and shall show specifically the true or probable country of birth and that the certificate is not evidence of United States citizenship. If the child was born in a foreign country but was a citizen of the United States at the time of birth, the state registrar shall not prepare a certificate of foreign birth but instead shall notify the adoptive parents of the procedures for obtaining a revised birth certificate for their child through the United States department of state. Any copy of a certificate of foreign birth issued shall indicate this policy, show the actual place of birth, and indicate the fact that the certificate is not proof of United States citizenship for the adopted child. A new certificate of birth in the new name of the adopted person prepared by the state registrar pursuant to this section is hereby legalized and made valid.
   3. Repealed.

2. 1. The state registrar shall register each new certificate of birth prepared pursuant to subsection (1) of this section by marking thereon the words "new certificate", by marking thereon the date such certificate is completed, which date thereafter shall be the registration date, and by substituting such new certificate for the original certificate of birth for such person.
   2. A new certificate of birth issued pursuant to an adoption, and any copy of such certificate issued, shall be marked by the state registrar with the words "issued pursuant to adoption" if so requested by an adoptive parent or by an adopted person.
   3. The state registrar shall develop rules to ensure that the adoptive parent's decision to include such information, in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), is made knowingly, including having a separate signature line verifying such choice.

3. Thereafter, the original certificate and evidence concerning adoption or parentage must be sealed and is not subject to inspection, except as provided in section 25-2-113.5 or in part 3 of article 5 of title 19, by regulation, or upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction after the court has satisfied itself that the interests of the child or the child's descendants or the parents will best be served by opening the seal. The information obtained from opening the seal may be withheld from public view or from being presented as evidence at the discretion of the judge.
4. In the event the decree which formed the basis for the new certificate of birth is annulled and if the state registrar receives either a certified copy of such decree of annulment or a report with respect to such decree as required by section 25-2-107, the state registrar shall return the original certificate to its place in the files. Thereafter the new certificate and evidence concerning the annulment shall not be subject to inspection except as provided in section 25-2-113.5, upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as provided by regulation.
5. If no certificate of birth is on file for the person for whom a new birth certificate is to be established under this section and the date and place of birth have not been determined in the adoption or paternity proceedings, a delayed certificate of birth shall be filed with the state registrar before a new certificate of birth is established. The new birth certificate shall be prepared on the delayed birth certificate form.
6. When a new certificate of birth is established by the state registrar, all copies of the original certificate of birth in the custody of any other custodian of vital records in this state shall be sealed from inspection, except as otherwise provided in part 3 of article 5 of title 19, C.R.S., or forwarded to the state registrar, as the state registrar shall direct.

Source: L. 67: R&RE, p. 1060, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 66-8-13. L. 76: (1) amended, p. 651, § 1, effective July 1. L. 78: (1)(a) and (3) amended, p. 269, § 81, effective May 23. L. 83: (3) and (4) amended, p. 1047, § 3, effective June 15. L. 84: (1)(b) amended, (1)(c) repealed, and (5) and (6) added, pp. 747, 751, §§ 11, 16, effective July 1. L. 87: (1)(b) amended, p. 820, § 35, effective October 1. L. 99: (1)(b), (3), and (6) amended, p. 1136, § 5, effective July 1. L. 2002: (2) amended, p. 333, § 1, effective August 7. L. 2018: (1)(a) and (3) amended, (SB 18-095), ch. 96, p. 755, § 14, effective August 8.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 18-095, see section 1 of chapter 96, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.