Information for Adoptees Requesting Records under New York’s 2020 Legislation
New York’s new adoptee rights law allows adoptees who are 18 years and older to request a certified copy of their original birth certificates.
Please note: The New York Foundling can only provide out-of-state birth certificates to those that were adopted through our organization. This new law does not unseal adoptee records, nor does it allow access to any information not available on one’s birth certificate.
How to Request an Adoptee Birth Certificate:
- Birth certificates for individuals born in one of the five boroughs of New York City— The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island — must be requested through the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
- Birth certificates for individuals born in the rest of New York State must be requested through the New York State Department of Health.
- Birth certificates for those born outside of New York State must be requested through the agency that facilitated the adoption – if the individual was a Foundling adoptee, you may contact our records department (complete this form or call 212-727-6812) to obtain this documentation.
For more information on the new legislation, consult the FAQ here.