Section 17. Effective January 1, 2000, the clerk of each town and of each city shall, on or before the tenth day of the second month following every month in which births occurred in the city or town, transmit to the state registrar, upon forms furnished by him, the original records of such births and any documentary evidence including voluntary acknowledgments signed by the parents and adjudications of paternity entered by the court. The clerk of each city and town shall retain a certified copy of said birth records. If no births occurred in the city or town during the month for which a report is required, a report of such fact shall be sent on forms provided by the state registrar. Prior to January 1, 2000, the city or town clerk in which the birth occurred shall forward to the state registrar a certified copy of each record of birth and original copies of all acknowledgments and adjudications of paternity filed with such birth records. The city or town clerk shall make an attested, certified copy of these documents for the files of the office of the city or town clerk.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts
Chapter 46 - Return and Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths
Section 11/2 - Certificates of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth; Filing
Section 1a - Birth Records of Abandoned Children or Foundlings
Section 1b - Filing Reports of Out-of-State Births or Adoptions
Section 1c - Filing Reports of Out-of-State Deaths
Section 1d - Adoption of Surname Upon Marriage
Section 2 - Separate Registries for Births, Deaths and Marriages
Section 2a - Disclosure of Information About Vital Statistics; Conditions
Section 2b - Pre-Adoption Birth Certificates; Application for Inspection by Adopted Persons
Section 2c - Pre-Adoption Birth Certificates; Access by Child of Deceased Adopted Parent
Section 3 - Physician's Record of Birth; Out of Hospital Birth
Section 3a - Hospital Administrator's Duties; Report; Verification
Section 3b - Birth Without Immediate Admittance to Hospital for Postnatal Care; Report
Section 3d - Acknowledgments and Adjudications of Paternity; Records Available to Iv–d Agency
Section 4 - Birth Without Attending Physician; Report; Recording; Petition; Hearing
Section 4a - Local Officials; Processing of Birth Certificates
Section 4b - Artificial Insemination
Section 6 - Notification of Births and Deaths
Section 7 - Report of Births and Deaths at Sea
Section 7a - Report of Births on Airplanes; Penalty for Violation
Section 8 - Penalty for Failure to Report Births and Deaths
Section 10 - Death Certificates of Veterans; Contents; Penalty for Violation
Section 11 - Duties of Undertakers
Section 13 - Correction of Records
Section 13a - Correction of Birth Records; Procedure
Section 14 - Penalty for False Returns
Section 17 - Birth Records; State Registrar; Originals; Certified Copies
Section 17a - Marriage Records; State Registrar; Originals; Certified Copies
Section 17b - Death Records; State Registrar; Originals; Certified Copies
Section 17d - Amended Birth, Marriage and Death Records; Certified Copies to Holders of Originals
Section 19 - Use of Records as Evidence
Section 19a - Unauthorized Reproduction of Records; Penalty
Section 19b - Certified Copies of Birth Records; Restricted Information Regarding Mother
Section 19c - Authentication of Copies of Birth, Marriage and Death Records; Use as Evidence
Section 20 - Births and Deaths in Tewksbury Hospital; Records
Section 22 - Registrars of Vital Statistics
Section 23 - Prosecution of Persons Failing to File Required Reports
Section 24 - Statements of Births and Deaths; Penalty
Section 25 - Disposition of Fines and Forfeitures
Section 27 - Clerks; Penalty for Neglecting Required Duties
Section 28 - Administration of Oaths
Section 29 - Attestation of Certificates
Section 30 - Alteration, Forgery or Counterfeiting; Penalty
Section 31 - Adoption Contact Information Registry
Section 34 - Agreements to Verify Existence of Birth, Marriage or Death Records