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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67380</law_id><section_number>32.1-260</section_number><catch_line>Petition for court order establishing record of birth when delayed certificate rejected; hearing; notice; findings; registration of court order</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>32.1-261</reference><reference>63.2-503.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Vital Records</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Birth Certificates</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If a delayed certificate of birth is rejected under the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Filing and registration of delayed birth certificates; refusal of registration; notice of right of appeal" href="/32.1-259/">32.1-259</a>, a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for an <span class="dictionary">order</span> establishing a record of the date and place of the birth and the parentage of the <span class="dictionary">person</span> whose birth is to be registered may be filed with the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county or city in which the <span class="dictionary">person</span> resides; or if the <span class="dictionary">person</span> is a citizen of this Commonwealth without a fixed residence or a resident of another state, the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> may be to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county or city in which such <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s birth occurred. In case of a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> who has no parent or guardian, the application may be made by his next friend. <a id="paragraph-244156" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Such <span class="dictionary">petition</span> shall allege: <a id="paragraph-244157" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> That the <span class="dictionary">person</span> for whom a delayed certificate of birth is sought was born in this Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-244158" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> That no record of birth of such <span class="dictionary">person</span> can be found in the records of the State Registrar or the county or city registrar; <a id="paragraph-244159" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> That diligent efforts by the petitioner have failed to obtain the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> required by regulations pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Filing and registration of delayed birth certificates; refusal of registration; notice of right of appeal" href="/32.1-259/">32.1-259</a>; and <a id="paragraph-244160" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> That the State Registrar has refused to register a delayed certificate of birth; and <a id="paragraph-244161" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Such other <span class="dictionary">allegations</span> as may be required. <a id="paragraph-244162" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">petition</span> shall be accompanied by the notice of the State Registrar made in accordance with subdivision D 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Filing and registration of delayed birth certificates; refusal of registration; notice of right of appeal" href="/32.1-259/">32.1-259</a> and all documentary <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> which was submitted to the State Registrar in support of such <span class="dictionary">registration</span>. <a id="paragraph-244163" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall fix a time and place for <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> and the petitioner shall give the State Registrar five days&#x2019; notice of said <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. The State Registrar, or his authorized representative, may appear and testify in the proceeding. <a id="paragraph-244164" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds from the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> presented that the <span class="dictionary">person</span> for whom a delayed certificate of birth is sought was born in this Commonwealth, it shall make <span class="dictionary">findings</span> as to the place and date of birth, parentage, and such other <span class="dictionary">findings</span> as may be required and shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> to establish a record of birth on a form furnished by the State Registrar. This <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall include the birth data to be registered, a description of the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> presented in the manner prescribed by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Filing and registration of delayed birth certificates; refusal of registration; notice of right of appeal" href="/32.1-259/">32.1-259</a>, and the date of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s action. <a id="paragraph-244165" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">clerk of court</span> shall forward each such form to the State Registrar not later than the tenth day of the calendar month following the month in which the <span class="dictionary">order</span> was entered. Such form shall be registered by the State Registrar and shall constitute the certificate of birth, from which certifications may be issued in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Certified copies of vital records; other copies" href="/32.1-272/">32.1-272</a>. <a id="paragraph-244166" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-260/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 32-353.18; 1954, c. 201; 1956, c. 260; 1960, c. 451; 1979, c. 711; 1983, c. 240.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
