Section 23-02.1-18 - New birth records following adoption, legitimation, and paternity determination1. The state registrar shall establish a new birth record for a person born in this state when the registrar receives the following:a. An adoption report as provided in section 23-02.1-17 or a certified copy of the decree of adoption together with the information necessary to identify the original birth record and to establish a new birth record; except that a new birth record may not be established if so requested by the court decreeing the adoption, the adoptive parents, or the adoptive person.b. A request that a new record be established and such evidence as required by rules and regulations proving that such person has been legitimated or that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined the paternity of such person.2. For a person born in a foreign country whose adoptive parents are residents of the state of North Dakota at the time of the adoption, the state registrar shall prepare a new birth record: a. In the case of a foreign-born person adopted in North Dakota, upon presentation of a report of adoption as required by section 23-02.1-17.b. In the case of a foreign-born person adopted outside the state of North Dakota or outside the United States, or in the state of North Dakota prior to July 1, 1979, upon presentation of a certified copy of the adoption decree, and: (1) A certified copy of the birth record of the adopted person; or(2) An affidavit of an adoptive parent setting forth the true or probable date and place of birth and parentage of the adopted person. Any certification of a birth record issued under this subsection must be in the same form as other certifications of birth records issued in this state except that it must state that it does not purport to be evidence of United States citizenship.
3. When a new birth record is established, the actual place and date of birth must be shown. The new birth record must be substituted for the original birth record:a. Thereafter, the original birth record and the evidence of adoption, paternity, or legitimation is not subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction or as provided by rules and regulations.b. Upon receipt of a notice of annulment of adoption, the original birth record must be restored to its place in the files and the new birth record and evidence is not subject to inspection except upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction.4. If no birth record is on file for the person for whom a new birth record is to be established under this section, an original birth record must be filed with the state registrar in accordance with the appropriate rules and regulations promulgated by the department of health and human services. The new record is also to be prepared on the standard forms in use at the time of the adoption, legitimation, or paternity determination.5. When a new birth record is established by the state registrar, all copies of the original birth record in the custody of any custodian of permanent local records in the state must be sealed from inspection or forwarded to the state registrar, as the registrar directs.Amended by S.L. 2021 , ch. 352( HB 1247 ), § 151, eff. 9/1/2022.