The certificate of adoption, Form 3927, is the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) State Office of Vital Records form that gives the State Office the facts of a child's birth and of the adoption so a new birth certificate can be prepared. The petitioner, the petitioner's attorney or a child placing agency representative completes Sections 1 and 2, and the clerk of court completes Section 3 after the final order. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by DPH.
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What is Form 3927?
Form 3927, Certificate of Adoption, is the Georgia Department of Public Health form that reports a finalized adoption to the State Office of Vital Records, giving the child's birth details, the new name and the parents' information needed to prepare a new birth certificate.
The form has three sections. Section 1: BEFORE ADOPTION records the child as registered at birth: state file number, name at birth, sex, date and place of birth, and the mother's and father's names at birth. Section 2: AFTER ADOPTION (INFORMATION FOR NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATE) records the child's new name and, for each parent, the current legal name, full name at birth, date and place of birth, whether the parent is an adoptive or natural parent, and addresses. Section 3: CERTIFICATION INFORMATION is completed by the clerk of court: the date the decree was entered, the court file number, the county of court and the place of birth shown on the final decree, followed by the clerk's signature and the court seal.
Unless the box on page 2 is checked, a new birth certificate in the adopted child's new name, showing the adoptive parents' names, will be prepared. The form is for reporting an adoption decree. It is not the request form for a certified copy of a birth certificate: the agency's birth records page lists the request routes and the ID requirements for those requests, and describes separate requirements for obtaining a pre-adoption birth certificate under SB 100 (Andee's Law).
Who needs to file Form 3927?
Sections 1 and 2 are completed by the petitioner, the attorney for the petitioner, or the child placing agency representative, as applicable. They are filed along with the petition or the decree in the adoption case.
Section 3 is not completed by the family. When the final order of adoption has been decreed, the clerk of court completes the certification information, affixes the seal of the court, signs the certification and forwards the certificate to the State Office of Vital Records.
The form has a line for the signature and title of the informant and a line for the attorney's name and address. Parents who do not want a new certificate in the child's new name showing the adoptive parents' names must check the box provided on page 2.
The agency's birth records page says that birth certificates are issued only to applicants with a direct and tangible interest in the record, such as immediate family members and legal representatives. Anyone who needs a copy of a birth certificate after the adoption is recorded should follow the ID requirements listed there.
When to file Form 3927
Complete Sections 1 and 2 when the adoption case is filed or decided, because the form says they are filed along with the petition or the decree. Section 3 waits until the final order of adoption has been decreed: only then does the clerk of court complete the certification, seal and sign it, and forward the certificate to the State Office of Vital Records. The form prints no separate deadline.
At the State Office, birth records are available from January 1919 to the present, according to the form and the agency's birth records page. The page also explains that amendments made after a child's first year, which include changes due to adoption, are handled as general amendments.
Documents you need
- The petition or the decree in the adoption case: Sections 1 and 2 of the certificate are filed along with it.
- The court's seal and the clerk's signature in Section 3, added by the clerk of court after the final order of adoption is decreed.
- A valid copy of your photo ID, only if you mail a request for a birth record copy to the State Office with the form's fee information.
- A U.S. money order or certified check payable to the State Office of Vital Records, only for a mailed copy request; the form says not to send cash.
How to fill out Form 3927
Enter the state file number
In Section 1: BEFORE ADOPTION, write the child's STATE FILE NUMBER from the original birth record. Print or type all information legibly.
Enter the child's birth details
Give the FIRST NAME, MIDDLE NAME and LAST NAME of the child at birth, the SEX OF CHILD, the DATE OF BIRTH (month, day and year) and the PLACE OF BIRTH (city, county and state).
Enter parents' names at birth
Still in Section 1, write the MOTHER'S NAME AT BIRTH (first, middle, last) and the FATHER'S NAME (first, middle and last).
Enter the child's new name
In Section 2: AFTER ADOPTION, write the child's first, middle and last name as they will appear on the new birth certificate.
Enter both parents' names
For MOTHER/PARENT 1 and FATHER/PARENT 2, enter the CURRENT LEGAL NAME and the FULL NAME AT BIRTH in the matching rows.
Enter parents' birth information
On page 2, enter each parent's DATE OF BIRTH (month, day, year) and PLACE OF BIRTH (city, county, state, or country).
Mark the parent type
Check one box for MOTHER/PARENT 1 and one for FATHER/PARENT 2: Adoptive Parent or Natural Parent.
Enter the addresses
Write the address of Mother/Parent 1 at the time of birth and the current address of the adoptive parents, each with street, city or town, state and ZIP code.
Decide on the new certificate box
Leave the box blank if a new birth certificate in the child's new name showing the adoptive parents' names should be prepared. Check it only if you do not want one prepared.
Add informant and attorney details
Sign the line for SIGNATURE OF INFORMANT and enter the TITLE OF INFORMANT. Type or print the attorney's name and the attorney's address (street, city, state and ZIP code).
Leave Section 3 for the clerk
Do not fill in Section 3: CERTIFICATION INFORMATION. The clerk of court enters the decree date, court file number and county, signs, and places the seal.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, dates and the parent boxes against the court records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and file it with the petition or decree as described under How to submit.
How to submit Form 3927
The form moves through the court rather than directly from the family to the State Office.
- With the court filing: the petitioner, attorney or child placing agency representative files Sections 1 and 2 along with the petition or decree.
- By the clerk of court: once the final order is decreed, the clerk completes Section 3, places the court seal over the signature and forwards the certificate to The State Office of Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349.
The form lists the State Office phone number as 404.679.4702 for correspondence. The form also prints a note about requesting copies of birth records: a non-refundable search fee and a processing fee apply, and a mailed request needs a U.S. money order or certified check payable to the State Office of Vital Records plus a valid copy of a photo ID. Cash must not be sent by mail. Ask the State Office for current amounts. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Completing Section 3 yourself; the form says the clerk of court completes the certification, signs it and affixes the court seal.
- Sending the certificate without the court seal over the clerk's signature, which the certification line asks for.
- Entering the child's new name in Section 1; that section is for the information BEFORE adoption, including the name at birth.
- Leaving the "Do not prepare a new certificate" box checked by mistake; checking it means no new certificate showing the adoptive parents will be prepared.
- Not marking Adoptive Parent or Natural Parent for each parent in Section 2.
- Filling the form out illegibly; it asks that all information be printed or typed legibly and correctly.
- Sending cash with a mailed copy request; the form says to use a U.S. money order or certified check.
- Mailing a copy request without a valid copy of a photo ID, which the form says must accompany it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate of adoption in Georgia?
It is Form 3927, issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health's State Office of Vital Records. It reports a finalized adoption, with the child's birth details and new name and the parents' information, so a new birth certificate can be prepared.
Who fills out Form 3927?
The petitioner, the petitioner's attorney or the child placing agency representative completes Sections 1 and 2. The clerk of court completes Section 3, affixes the court seal, signs and forwards the certificate to the State Office of Vital Records.
Can I fill out the certificate of adoption online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not file it: the form is filed with the petition or decree, and the clerk of court forwards it to the State Office.
Where does the clerk send the certificate of adoption?
To The State Office of Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The form lists 404.679.4702 as the State Office phone number. The clerk sends it after the final order of adoption has been decreed.
Will a new birth certificate be issued after the adoption?
Yes, unless you check the box on page 2. The form says a new birth certificate in the adopted child's new name, showing the adoptive parents' names, will be prepared unless the "Do not prepare a new certificate" box is checked.
What does Section 1 ask for compared with Section 2?
Section 1 records the child before adoption: state file number, name at birth, sex, birth date and place, and the parents' names at birth. Section 2 records the information for the new birth certificate: the new name and the parents' current and birth names, details and addresses.
Is there a fee on Form 3927?
The form prints a note on birth record copy requests saying a non-refundable search fee and a processing fee apply, and that extra copies cost more. Ask the State Office of Vital Records at 404.679.4702 for the current amounts.
Is Form 3927 the form to get a copy of my birth certificate?
No. Form 3927 reports an adoption. The agency's birth records page explains how to request a certified copy, with ID requirements by relationship, and lists a separate request form, Form 3918, Request for Search of Birth.
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