Adoptees may now receive a noncertified copy of the certificate of birth prior to adoption
HF855 was signed into law on May 19, 2021. This new legislation allows an adult adoptee to apply for a noncertified copy of the original certificate of birth prior to adoption immediately. If the adult adoptee is deceased, an entitled family may apply for the record.
Beginning January 1, 2022, any adult adoptee 18 years old or older may apply for a noncertified copy of the original certificate of birth prior to adoption. If the adult adoptee is deceased, an entitled family may apply for the record.
- Proper application, proof of identity and entitlement must exist before a noncertified copy of the original certificate of birth may be issued to any party.
- Contact preference forms and medical history forms may be on file for the biological parent(s) named on the record. If the contact preference forms and medical history forms are on file, the forms will be released with the noncertified original certificate of birth.
- Biological parents may state their preference to release their identity and option for contact, or for their identity to be redacted from the original certificate of birth prior to adoption.
- An original noncertified certificate of birth prior to adoption may be released regardless of any contact preference forms being filed when proper application has been made and proof of entitlement exists.
EXPECTED PROCESSING TIME TO COMPLETE COPY REQUESTS SUBMITTED IS 6 TO 8 WEEKS
- Biological Parent Contact Preference Form
- Biological Parent Medical History Form
- Application to Request a Noncertified Copy of Original Certificate of Birth Prior to Adoption
Applications for a noncertified copy of the original certificate of birth prior to adoption, contact preference and medical history forms will only be accepted via mail or in-person at the Bureau of Health Statistics. These forms will not be filed at any other issuing office.
Mail contact preference and medical history forms to:
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building
1st Floor, 321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Please email all general vital record questions to vitalrecords@hhs.iowa.gov