Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Allowing Adoptees to Receive a Certified Birth Certificate at Age 18

Gov Cuomo Flickr Page. Photo by Mike Groll.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently signed legislation allowing adoptees for the first time to receive a certified copy of their birth certificate when they turn 18-years-old. This measure (S3419/A5494) helps ensures that all adult New York adoptees will have the same unimpeded right to information about their birth and biological parents.

"Where you came from informs who you are, and every New Yorker deserves access to the same birth records - it's a basic human right," Governor Cuomo said. "For too many years, adoptees have been wrongly denied access to this information and I am proud to sign this legislation into law and correct this inequity once and for all."

This legislation removes the right of government agencies to restrict the type of information made available to adopted persons and removes the previous barriers to receive information about biological parents to identify medical data that can prevent preventable diseases or untimely death. Under this new law, the adopted person's lawful representative or their descendants will also be able to get access the birth certificate if the adoptee is deceased.