Bill > S248

This bill modifies North Carolina's laws regarding birth certificates for adopted individuals, making several key changes to how these documents are created, stored, and accessed. The bill requires the State Registrar to create a new birth certificate for adopted individuals that includes their adoptive parents' information and removes all references to the adoption process, essentially creating a birth certificate that appears identical to those for non-adopted individuals. For stepparent adoptions, the bill provides specific guidelines about listing parents' names, with an option for all parties to request that names remain unchanged. The bill also changes how these birth certificates are handled, allowing both the State Registrar and county registers of deeds to issue certified copies to the adoptee, their children, adoptive parents, spouse, and adoptive siblings. Importantly, the bill adds privacy protections by mandating that adoptee birth certificates cannot be openly inspected and requiring annual training for registers of deeds on information privacy. These changes aim to provide adopted individuals with easier access to their birth certificates while maintaining confidentiality. The new provisions will become effective on January 1, 2026, and will apply to birth certificates in the electronic registration system before, on, and after that date.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S248