Rule 112.Responsibility of Attorney After Entry of Decree.

Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified September 11, 2026

In one sentenceRule 112 makes the attorney responsible after the adoption decree for the amended birth certificate and for distributing authorized copies.

Full Text of Rule 112

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) (a) To obtain new birth certificate for individual. It shall be the responsibility of the attorney to assist the petitioners in obtaining the amended birth certificate for the individual evidencing the legal relationship of the individual to the adoptive parents.

(b) (b) To distribute copies. The court may authorize, for immigration, naturalization, allotment and other valid purposes, the issuance of copies of findings of fact and conclusions of law and decrees which shall be given to the attorney for forwarding to the adoptive parents. Copies authorized for filing in termination proceedings or with the department of human services or other agency entitled thereto shall be forwarded by the clerk of the court to the attorney unless otherwise ordered.

End

Amendment History

(Amended March 30, 2022, effective April 25, 2022.)

Plain-English Summary

The case does not end at the decree, and this rule says who finishes it. The attorney must assist the petitioners in obtaining the amended birth certificate for the individual, the document that evidences the legal relationship to the adoptive parents.

Copies are controlled. The court may authorize issuance of copies of the findings of fact, conclusions of law and decree for immigration, naturalization, allotment and other valid purposes, and those copies are given to the attorney for forwarding to the adoptive parents.

Copies authorized for filing in termination proceedings, or with the department of human services or another agency entitled to them, are handled as the rule provides. The routing through the attorney rather than direct to the family is what keeps a sealed adoption file under control while still getting the documents where they need to go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who gets the amended birth certificate after a Hawaii adoption?

The attorney is responsible for assisting the petitioners in obtaining it.

Can I get copies of the adoption decree?

The court may authorize copies of the findings, conclusions and decree for immigration, naturalization, allotment and other valid purposes, given to the attorney for forwarding to the adoptive parents.

Why does the attorney handle the copies?

Adoption files are sealed on filing under Rule 7.2(b), so distribution runs through the attorney under court authorization.

Are copies sent to any agency?

The rule provides for copies authorized for filing in termination proceedings or with the department of human services or another agency entitled to them.

What does the amended birth certificate show?

The legal relationship of the individual to the adoptive parents.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Hawaii Family Court Rules (Haw. Fam. Ct. R. 112). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 11, 2026. · Official source

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