Montana Code Annotated
Part 2. Birth
50-15-223. Certificates of birth following adoption, legitimation, or determination or acknowledgment of paternity

50-15-223. Certificates of birth following adoption, legitimation, or determination or acknowledgment of paternity. (1) The department shall establish a new certificate of birth for a person born in this state when the department receives the following:
(a) a certificate of adoption, as provided in 50-15-311, a certificate of adoption prepared and filed in accordance with the laws of another state or foreign country, or a certified copy of the decree of adoption, together with the information necessary to identify the original certificate of birth and to establish a new certificate of birth; or
(b) a request that a new certificate be established if the request shows that:
(i) a district court, court of appropriate jurisdiction in another state, or administrative agency in this state or another state with appropriate jurisdiction has determined the paternity of the person and information necessary to identify the original certificate of birth is provided; or
(ii) both parents have acknowledged the paternity of the person and request that the surname be changed from that shown on the original certificate.
(2) The date of birth and the city and county of birth must be stated in the newly established certificate of birth. The department shall substitute the new certificate of birth for the original certificate of birth in the files. The original certificate of birth and the evidence of adoption, legitimation, court determination of paternity, or paternity acknowledgment are only subject to inspection, except upon order of a district court, as provided by rule, as provided in Title 42, chapter 6, part 1, or as otherwise provided by state law.
(3) Upon receipt of a report of an amended decree of adoption, the department shall amend the certificate of birth as provided in rules adopted by the department.
(4) Upon receipt of a report or decree of annulment of adoption, the department shall restore the original certificate of birth issued before the adoption to its place in the files and the certificate of birth issued upon adoption and evidence pertaining to the adoption proceeding may not be open to inspection, except:
(a) as provided in Title 42, chapter 6, part 1;
(b) upon order of a district court; or
(c) as provided by rule adopted by the department.
(5) Upon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment and other credible evidence of paternity signed by both parents of a child born outside of marriage, the department shall reflect the paternity on the child's certificate of birth if paternity is not already shown on the certificate of birth.
(6) If a certificate of birth is not on file for the adopted child for whom a new certificate of birth is to be established under this section and the date and place of birth have not been determined in the adoption or paternity proceedings pertaining to the child, a delayed certificate of birth must be filed with the department, as provided in 50-15-204, before a new certificate of birth may be established. The new certificate of birth must be prepared on a form prescribed by the department.
(7) When a new certificate of birth is established by the department, the department shall direct that all copies of the original certificate of birth in the custody of any other custodian of vital records in this state be forwarded immediately to the department.
(8) (a) The department shall, upon request of the adopting parents, prepare and register a certificate of birth in this state for a person who was born in a foreign country and adopted through a district court in this state.
(b) The certificate of birth must be established by the department upon receipt of a certificate of adoption, conforming to the requirements of 50-15-311, from the court that reflects entry of an order of adoption, proof of the date and place of the child's birth, and a request for the establishment of a certificate of birth from the court, the adopting parents, or the adopted person, if the person is 18 years of age or older.
(c) The certificate of birth must be labeled "Certificate of Foreign Birth" and must contain the actual country of birth. A statement must be included on the certificate indicating that it is not evidence of United States citizenship for the child for whom it is issued.
(d) After registration of the certificate of birth in the new name of the adopted person, the department shall seal and file the certificate of adoption, which is not subject to inspection, except upon order of the district court, as provided by rule, or as otherwise provided by state law.
(9) The department may promulgate rules necessary to implement this section.
History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 515, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 169, Ch. 480, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 92, Ch. 552, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 149, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 162, L. 2015.