Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 210 - Adoption of Children and Change of Names
Section 6a - Certificates of Adoption

Section 6A. The court shall forthwith, following the making of a decree of adoption, issue to the petitioner, or petitioners, a certificate of adoption setting forth all the facts relating to the adopting parent, or parents, as appearing in the statement required to be filed by section six, the name of, and all other facts relating to, the person adopted, as appearing in any copy of birth record or decree of adoption filed as required by said section, the name of the court making such decree and the date thereof, and, if such decree authorizes a change in the name of the person adopted, his name as so changed; provided, that if such person has been born out of wedlock, the name, or names, of, and all other facts relating to, his natural parent, or parents, shall be omitted from such certificate.
Certificates under this section shall be made on forms furnished by the commissioner of public health, and shall provide for the indicating thereon by the adopting parent, or parents, as to whether or not a correction of the record of the birth of the person adopted is desired; and, in case such desire is so indicated, the court shall forthwith send a certified copy of such certificate to the clerk of the city or town where such person was born.
If either of the parents who have adopted a child so request, the register of probate shall issue a special certificate of adoption upon which the original or prior name of the child and the names of its natural parents shall not appear.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations

Title III - Domestic Relations

Chapter 210 - Adoption of Children and Change of Names

Section 1 - Nature of Adoption; District or Juvenile Court

Section 2 - Written Consent of Certain Persons; Form of Consent; Identification of Father

Section 2a - Decree of Adoption; Entry; Conditions Precedent

Section 2b - Adoption Decrees; Mandatory Language

Section 3 - Dispensing With Required Consent in Certain Cases

Section 3b - Registration of Interest for Pre-Adoptive or Adoptive Placement; Criminal Record Review

Section 4 - Notice

Section 4a - Fathers of Children Born Out of Wedlock; Adoption Rights

Section 5 - Failure to Object After Notice; Proceedings

Section 5a - Children Under Fourteen; Adoption; Regulations; Removals

Section 5b - Adoptive Custody; Factors Considered; Request for Religious Designation

Section 5c - Inspection of Pleadings, Reports, etc.; Docket Book

Section 5d - Release of Information Concerning Adoption

Section 5e - Department of Children and Families Adoption Report

Section 6 - Decree of Court; Force and Effect; Private Hearings

Section 6a - Certificates of Adoption

Section 6b - Adoption Nunc Pro Tunc

Section 6c - Agreement for Post-Adoption Contact or Communication

Section 6d - Enforcement of Agreement

Section 6e - Decisions of Adoptive Parent on Behalf of Child

Section 9 - Succession to Property; Right of Child Adopted in Foreign State

Section 10 - Second Adoption; Effect

Section 11 - Appeals

Section 11a - Adoption Services Offered by Certain Persons or Agencies; Penalty

Section 12 - Petitions for Change of Name

Section 13 - Notice and Certificate; Decree; Entry; Conditions Precedent

Section 14 - Annual Return of Changes of Name