Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 20 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (§§ 20-2-101 — 20-86-113) › Subtitle 2 - HEALTH AND SAFETY (§§ 20-6-101 — 20-38-113) › Chapter 18 - VITAL STATISTICS ACT (§§ 20-18-101 — 20-18-705) › Subchapter 4 - BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS (§§ 20-18-401 — 20-18-410) › Section 20-18-406 - New certificates

(a)
The State Registrar of Vital Records shall establish a new certificate of birth for a person born in this state when he or she receives the following:
(1)
A certificate of adoption as provided in §
9-9-219
, or a certificate of adoption prepared and filed in accordance with the laws of another state or foreign country, or a certified copy of the decree of adoption, together with the information necessary to identify the original certificate of birth and to establish a new certificate of birth. However, a new certificate of birth shall not be established if so requested by the court decreeing the adoption, the adoptive parents, or the adopted person; or
(2)
A request that a new certificate be established and any evidence, as required by rule, proving that the person has been legitimated, or that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined the paternity of the person or that both parents have acknowledged the paternity of the person and request that the surname be changed from that shown on the original certificate.
(b)
When a new certificate of birth is established, the actual city or county, or both, and date of birth shall be shown. The new certificate shall be substituted for the original certificate of birth. Thereafter, the original certificate and the evidence of adoption, paternity determination, or legitimation shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of an Arkansas court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by rule or under §
9-9-803
.
(c)
Upon receipt of a report of an amended certificate of adoption, the certificate of birth shall be amended as provided by rule.
(d)
Upon receipt of a report of annulment of adoption, the original certificate of birth shall be restored to its place in the files, and the new certificate and evidence shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by rule.
(e)
Upon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of paternity signed by both parents of a child born out of wedlock, the state registrar shall reflect paternity on the certificate of birth in the manner prescribed by rule if paternity is not already shown on the certificate of birth.
(f)
(1)
Upon request, the state registrar shall prepare and register an Arkansas certificate of birth for a person born in a foreign country, who is not a citizen of the United States, and for whom a final order of adoption has been entered in a court of competent jurisdiction in Arkansas when he or she receives the following:
(A)
A certificate of adoption as provided in §
9-9-219
;
(B)
Proof of the date and place of the adopted child's birth; and
(C)
A request by the court decreeing the adoption, the adoptive parents, or the adopted person if eighteen (18) years of age or older.
(2)
After preparation of the birth certificate in the new name of the adopted person, the state registrar shall seal and file the certificate of adoption. This certificate shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by rule or as otherwise provided by state law.
(3)
The birth certificate shall show the actual foreign country of birth and shall state that the certificate is not evidence of United States citizenship for the child for whom it is issued.
(g)
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 as provided in §
20-18-402
or §
20-18-403
before a new certificate of birth is established. The new certificate of birth shall be prepared on the delayed birth certificate form.
(h)
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 or forwarded to the state registrar as he or she shall direct.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1973, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1972, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 1971, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 519,§ 3, eff. 8/1/2017.
Acts 1981, No. 120, § 12; 1985, No. 351, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 82-512; Acts 1987, No. 219, § 1; 1995, No. 1254, § 21.