Georgia Birth Certificate Laws

• Georgia law requires a record of every live birth in the state.birth marriage and death image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
  
  Birth records in Georgia are needed for passports and other documents where state and country of birth are required. They are also important sources for genealogy hunters. Vital Records under the supervision of the Georgia State Health Department keeps all records of birth, death and marriage.
  
  

History

• Georgia first passed a law requiring the recording of all live births in 1875. But the law was repealed in 1876, and it wasn't passed again until 1919. Even then, many counties were unable or unwilling to comply with the law. Full implementation for the entire state wasn't achieved until 1928.
  
  

Requesting a Copy

• Georgia law limits the persons able to request a birth certificate. The person named on the record may make a request, as well as the parents, grandparents or legal guardian of the recorded person. An adult child, sibling or spouse of the individual named on a birth certificate may also request a copy. An application, photo ID and proper fee must be offered at the time of the request.
  
  

Adoption

• According to Georgia law, an original birth certificate is required to be submitted with all documentation at the time of adoption. The original certificate is sealed with the adoption records. An amended birth certificate is then issued with the adoptive parents listed as the natural parents. This record is kept on file at Vital Records. The original can only be accessed with a court order.
  
  

Changes

• The law allows for changes to be made to original birth certificates, such as in the case of adoption. But if parents or guardians notice errors, they can resubmit the record with the required changes and a fee.