48.94 New birth record.

(1) After entry of the order granting the adoption the clerk of the court shall promptly mail a copy thereof to the state bureau of vital records and furnish any additional data needed for the new birth record. Whenever the parents by adoption, or the adopting parent and a birth parent who is the spouse of the adopting parent, request, that the birth record for the person adopted be not changed, then the court shall so order. In such event no new birth record shall be filed by the state registrar, notwithstanding the provisions of s. 69.15 (2) or any other law of this state.

(2) If the court issues an order under s. 69.15 (2) (d) to restore the information from an adoptee's original birth record, the state registrar shall issue a new birth certificate containing the information from the adoptee's original birth record, except for the adoptee's given name at birth, if different. The restoration of any birth parent's name on the adoptee's birth record does not do any of the following:

(a) Affect the legal relationship of parent and adoptee that was created by the order of adoption.

(b) Restore any legal rights or any legal relationship that terminated upon the order of adoption.

(c) Change the adoptee's legal name.

History: 1981 c. 359 s. 16; 1985 a. 315 s. 22; 1991 a. 316; 2013 a. 379; 2017 a. 334.

Fundamental Rights Debate: Should Wisconsin Allow Adult Adoptees Unconditional Access to Adoption Records and Original Birth Certificates? Racine. 2002 WLR 1437.