Refer to the Birth Certificate section of this website

Children born in the State of Arizona and adopted in Arizona or another state

Adoption is a process completed by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Office of Vital Records is responsible for amending the birth certificate after an adoption has been finalized. By the tenth day of the month, all adoptions finalized in the preceding month, shall be forwarded by the court to the State Office of Vital Records for the birth certificate to be amended to reflect the adoptive information (A.R.S. 36-336). If the court does not send the information to the Office of Vital Records, the adoptive parent can submit a certified copy of the adoption decree and the adoption worksheet to amend the birth certificate.

When the birth certificate is amended after an adoption, the new birth certificate shall state the city or county of birth stated on the original birth certificate and the date of birth stated on the original birth certificate. The Office of Vital Records may omit the exact location of the birth on the registered birth certificate if so stated in the court order. (A.R.S. 36-337.E)

After the Office of Vital Records amends the birth certificate, the original birth certificate shall be sealed along with the evidentiary documents (court order, adoption certificate) provided to amend the birth certificate. The sealed record cannot be opened.

If the Office of Vital Records receives a court order annulling an adoption, the Office of Vital Records will unseal the original birth certificate and shall return the original birth certificate to the “active” birth registry.

A fee is charged for this service and includes one certified copy of the new birth certificate.  Additional copies may also be requested.  Please reference the fee schedule under quick links, then select State Office of Vital Records to determine the fee.

How to obtain a certified copy of the birth certificate after the adoption is finalized

The adoptive parent(s) can apply for a copy of the birth certificate after the adoption has been finalized. Please note, we no longer mail a courtesy letter to the adoptive parents to inform them the birth certificate has been amended. The adoptive parent may contact our office to inquire if the birth certificate has been amended.

In order to receive a certified copy of the birth certificate the following must be submitted to the State Office of Vital Records:

• The certified order of adoption, adoption decree, certificate of adoption or other equivalent court order (This is required only if the court did not send the court order to the Office of Vital Records).
• Appropriate fee (acceptable methods of payment: money order, cashier's check, credit/debit card, cash, and traveler’s checks—we only accept cash and traveler’s checks if paying the fee in person).
• A completed application – The application must be signed by the applicant.  A copy of a valid government issued picture identification must accompany the birth application or the application must be notarized (attorney’s are exempt from this requirement).

The private attorney representing the adoptive parent(s) may request a certified copy of the amended birth certificate at the time the final order is submitted to the State Office of Vital Records.  The request must be in application format or on the firm’s letterhead and contain the attorney’s signature and state bar number.

Note: Arizona's adoption records are confidential. If you were adopted and you are looking for your birth parents, or if you are the birth parent of an adoptee and you are looking for your child, you will need to engage the services of a Confidential Intermediary. Please refer to the Arizona Supreme Court's Confidential Intermediary Program web site for more information.

Children born in another state and adopted in Arizona

When the Office of Vital Records receives an adoption, a court order for adoption, a change to a court order for adoption or an annulment of an adoption for a person born in another state, the documents along with a cover letter will be mailed to the appropriate registration authority in the state where the person was born. The adoptive parents will receive a copy of the letter as well.

Requests may be submitted in person from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday - Friday or you may mail your request to the State Office of Vital Records, Post Office Box 3887, Phoenix, AZ 85030.

If you are planning to adopt a child born from a foreign country, please see foreign born adoptions.

Putative Father Registry

The Putative Father Registry is a registry maintained by the State Office of Vital Records. The registry’s primary purpose is to assist father’s in receiving notification of any adoption proceeding that may be taking place for a child that they have submitted a claim for. For more information see the Putative Father Registry.

For additional instructions on how to apply for certified copies of your child's birth certificate, see Birth Certificates.