CaliforniaCalifornia sets birth certificate deadlines for certain adoption and readoption papers
The signed law gives California's registrar 11 weeks to make a new birth certificate after receiving a complete adoption report for a California-born child with a state birth record or a complete qualifying readoption order.
What it does
For a California-born child with a state birth record, the registrar must make a new certificate within 11 weeks after receiving a complete adoption report from a court with authority over the child. Qualifying readoption orders also count.
If a covered adoption report or qualifying readoption order is incomplete, the registrar must ask the issuing court or applicant for missing documents within 14 weeks. The registrar must make the certificate within 11 weeks after receiving them.
If required documents remain missing 90 calendar days after the court or applicant is notified, the registrar may return the incomplete covered adoption report or qualifying readoption order to the applicant for resubmission.
Argument forFamilies with complete papers for covered adoptions or qualifying readoptions could know the deadline for the state to make a new birth certificate.
Argument againstApplicants could face extra paperwork if the registrar returns an incomplete report or order when required documents remain missing 90 calendar days after notice.
More detail
The signed law says the state registrar must make a new birth certificate within 11 weeks of receiving complete, covered adoption papers. For an adoption report, the child must have been born in California, have a birth record on file with the state, and be under the reporting court's authority. Readoption orders must be issued under California Family Code Section 8919. Incomplete reports and orders follow separate deadlines. The 11 weeks start when the registrar receives the complete report or order.
The signed law says the registrar must request missing documents and make the certificate after receiving them. This applies to incomplete covered adoption reports and qualifying readoption orders. The registrar contacts the issuing court or the applicant, depending on whom the registrar considers necessary. The 11-week deadline to make the certificate starts when the required documents arrive.
The signed law allows the registrar to return incomplete papers to the applicant for resubmission. This applies to incomplete covered adoption reports and qualifying readoption orders. The required documents must still be missing. The 90 calendar days start when the court or applicant is notified.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1014, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 28Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 24Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5690.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB1186 Seyarto et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 20In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 1186 Seyarto Senate Third Reading By Patterson. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 20Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6307.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jun 25Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 23).Major
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1Referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- May 22In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB1186 Seyarto et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 22Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0. Page 4419.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 20Ordered to special consent calendar.
- May 14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4268.) (May 14).Minor
- May 8Set for hearing May 14.
- Apr 27April 27 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Set for hearing April 27.
- Apr 20Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 16From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 3901.) (April 15).Major
- Apr 15
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Set for hearing April 15.
- Mar 4Referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- Feb 20From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
- Feb 19Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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