RCW 70.58A.400 Adoption—Amendment of birth record or registration of birth—Sealing of original birth record. (Effective January 1, 2021.)

(1) The state registrar shall amend the birth record of a child born in state to reflect an adoption decree received from a Washington state court of competent jurisdiction upon receipt of:

(a) An application to register an adoption;

(b) A certified copy of the adoption decree entered pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW; and

(c) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.

(2) The state registrar shall amend the live birth record of a child born in state to reflect an adoption report from any other state or territory of the United States, and the District of Columbia, upon receipt of:

(a) A certified copy of an adoption report, or an application to register an adoption and a certified copy of the adoption decree; and

(b) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.

(3) The state registrar shall register the birth of a child born outside the United States and its territories and adopted after January 1, 1985, in a Washington state court of competent jurisdiction upon receipt of:

(a) An application to register an adoption;

(b) A certified copy of a decree of adoption entered pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW; and

(c) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.

(4) The state registrar shall register the birth of a child born outside the United States and its territories and adopted before January 1, 1985, in a Washington state court of competent jurisdiction upon receipt of:

(a) An application to register an adoption;

(b) A certified copy of a decree of adoption entered pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW;

(c) Documentary evidence as to the child's birthdate and birthplace provided by:

(i) The original birth certification;

(ii) A certified copy, extract, or translation of the original birth certification; or

(iii) A certified copy of another document essentially equivalent to the original birth certification including, but not limited to, the records of the United States citizenship and immigration services or the United States department of state; and

(d) Applicable fees established under this chapter and by rule.

(5) The state registrar shall retain and seal the original birth record including the adoption report, certified copy of the adoption decree, and other documentary evidence filed pursuant to chapter 26.33 RCW. The sealed record is not subject to public inspection or copying pursuant to chapter 42.56 RCW and may be released only as allowed by RCW 26.33.345.

[ 2019 c 148 § 17.]