How to Get an Amended Birth Certificate After Adoption in Arkansas
Once your child's adoption is finalized, Arkansas will issue a new birth certificate listing you as the legal parent and reflecting your child's new name. Here's exactly how to get it.
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Finalizing an adoption is one of the most significant legal events in a family's life. Once the court enters the Decree of Adoption, one of the practical next steps is obtaining an amended birth certificate — a new certificate that lists the adoptive parents as the legal parents and reflects the child's new legal name.
In Arkansas, this process is handled through the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. It requires a few specific documents and a small filing fee. The steps below walk you through exactly what to do.
What Changes on the Birth Certificate
The amended birth certificate is a new, official birth certificate — not a notation or amendment to the original. It will reflect the child's new legal name as ordered by the court and list the adoptive parents as the child's legal parents. The original birth certificate is sealed and is no longer the document of record.
The amended birth certificate looks and functions exactly like any other birth certificate. It can be used for school enrollment, passport applications, Social Security purposes, and any other situation where a birth certificate is required.
What You Need to Gather
Before submitting your request, gather the following three items:
- Certified copy of the Decree of Adoption. This must be a certified copy bearing the court's official stamp or seal — a plain photocopy will not be accepted. If you need additional certified copies, contact the circuit clerk in the county where the adoption was finalized.
- Completed Report of Adoption form. This is a form from the Arkansas Department of Health that collects the information needed to amend the birth record. You can download it directly from the Arkansas Department of Health's website: Report of Adoption Form (PDF).
- Payment of $27.00. This fee covers the amendment process and one certified copy of the new birth certificate. Make your check or money order payable to the Arkansas Department of Health. Personal checks are accepted.
How to Submit Your Request
You have two options for submitting your request — by mail or in person.
By Mail
Send your certified Decree of Adoption, completed Report of Adoption form, and $27.00 payment to:
Division of Vital Records — Amendment Section
4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44
Little Rock, AR 72205-3867
Clients who submit by mail typically receive the amended birth certificate approximately two weeks after the Division receives their documents.
In Person
You may visit the Division of Vital Records in person at 4815 West Markham Street in Little Rock. When you arrive, tell the staff you are there for a birth certificate amendment. If you arrive before 3:30 p.m., you should be able to receive the amended birth certificate the same day.
Make sure your Decree of Adoption is a certified copy with the court's official seal before mailing anything. The Division of Vital Records will not process requests submitted with uncertified copies, and you will lose time waiting for them to be returned.
What to Expect After You Submit
Once the Division of Vital Records processes your request, you will receive one certified copy of the amended birth certificate. The $27.00 fee covers this one copy. If you need additional certified copies — for example, for school, Social Security, or passport purposes — you can request them at that time for an additional fee.
The amended birth certificate will list the adoptive parents as the child's legal parents and reflect the child's new legal name exactly as it appears in the Decree of Adoption. Double-check the name spelling in the Decree before submitting your request, since the birth certificate will match it exactly.
For more information, visit the Arkansas Department of Health's adoption reporting page.
Once you have the amended birth certificate in hand, the next step is updating your child's Social Security record. See my guide: How to Get a New Social Security Card After Adoption.
Questions about your adoption?
I help Arkansas families through every step of the adoption process — from the petition through finalization and beyond.