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What Adoptees and Families Need to Know About SB 100 (Andee’s Law in Georgia)
As of July 1, 2025, a transformative new law known as Andee’s Law (Senate Bill 100) is officially in effect in Georgia. The bill gives adopted adults the right to request a copy of their original birth certificate, the document issued prior to their adoption.
Before this law, obtaining that record required a court order and was often very difficult or impossible.
Andee's Law isn't just a statutory update. It's a powerful tool that empowers many adopted individuals and their families. It’s a way to find closure, learn about their roots, and finally connect the missing pieces of their identity.
What Does Andee’s Law (Senate Bill 100) Allow?
Under this new law:
Adult adoptees (18 and older) can request a copy of their original, pre-adoption birth certificate from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).
If the adoptee has passed away, a parent, sibling, child, or grandchild can request it.
The copy is non-certified, meaning it can’t be used as a legal ID for things like obtaining a driver’s license, passport, or Social Security card.
How do you request the birth certificate in Georgia?
Requests must be sent to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the entity that maintains vital records such as birth certificates and death certificates.
The DPH is still finalizing the full process, but they will handle:
Identity verification
Record retrieval
Fulfilling requests under SB 100
🔗 Visit the DPH Website to Request Records
Why This Matters for Probate, Guardianship & Estate Planning
At Thompson Mungo Firm, we help families with probate, guardianship, and estate planning daily. While this law is about identity, it also has important legal impacts you should know:
1. Probate and Administration
Original birth certificates can be a key piece of evidence in establishing biological relationships. This is especially important when identifying heirs in intestate estates (cases where no valid will exists) or in disputes over inheritance. Also, this is helpful in complex family situations involving adoption, stepfamilies, or unknown siblings.
2. Guardianship and Conservatorship
Knowing an individual’s biological background can help the courts and families make more informed decisions especially in appointing a guardian for a minor or a conservator for an adult with incapacity. Understanding family connections can lead to more appropriate and compassionate placements.
3. Estate Planning
With new access to biological history, adoptees may choose to update their wills, adjust trust arrangements, or make healthcare decisions based on newfound genetic or family information. Birth family reconnections may even lead to expanded estate planning conversations that reflect new relationships and responsibilities.
Why It’s Called “Andee’s Law”?
The law is named after Andee McCoy. She is an adoptee from Georgia who spent much of her life trying to access her original birth certificate. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2022 without ever gaining access to her original birth certificate.
Her mother, Robin Sizemore, carried her daughter’s mission forward. She fought tirelessly to ensure no other adoptee would be left in the dark about their origins.
Their story touched the hearts of lawmakers across party lines and led to the unanimous passage of SB 100. Now, this law is not just a policy but it’s a promise to honor stories like Andee’s and empower every adopted person to reclaim a piece of their past.
Andee’s Law is about more than paper. It’s not just about legalities. It’s about people. It gives them the power to explore their past, understand their roots, and possibly shape their future. Moreover, it can bring closure, understanding, and a sense of belonging to many adoptees and their families.
At Thompson Mungo Firm, we’re here to help you understand how this law might affect your rights, family, or estate planning. So, whether you're an adoptee reconnecting with your roots, an executor sorting through probate matters, a parent making plans, Andee’s Law may have legal and emotional impact on your family’s future.
Key Takeaways: Andee’s Law (SB 100) in Georgia
Andee’s Law (SB 100), effective July 1, 2025, allows eligible adoptees to access their original birth certificates in Georgia.
Adult adoptees (18+) can request records from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).
If the adoptee is deceased, certain family members may also request the record.
The certificate provided is non-certified and cannot be used for legal identification purposes.
The law improves access to biological history, identity, and family connections for adoptees.
It may also impact probate, guardianship, and estate planning matters involving family relationships.
FAQ: Andee’s Law (SB 100) in Georgia
What is Andee’s Law in Georgia?
Andee’s Law (SB 100) is a Georgia law that allows adopted adults to request their original birth certificates from the Georgia Department of Public Health.
When does Andee’s Law take effect?
The law became effective on July 1, 2025.
Who can request an original birth certificate under this law?
Adult adoptees aged 18 and older can request it. If the adoptee is deceased, certain family members such as parents, siblings, children, or grandchildren may also request it.
Is the original birth certificate a legal ID?
No. The document provided is non-certified and cannot be used for identification purposes like a passport or driver’s license.
How do you request the birth certificate in Georgia?
Requests must be submitted to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Vital Records office, which verifies identity and processes requests.
Why is this law important for estate planning?
It may help establish biological relationships in probate cases, inheritance disputes, and guardianship matters, especially in complex family situations.
Can this affect inheritance rights?
It can help clarify heirship in intestate estates, particularly when biological relationships are unclear or disputed.
Why is it called Andee’s Law?
It is named after Andee McCoy, an adoptee whose advocacy, continued by her mother, led to the passage of the law.
Let our team at Thompson Mungo Firm help you understand your rights and plan wisely.
📞 Call us at (678) 855-6002 to schedule a consultation.
References and Sources:
SB 100 – Full Bill Text | Georgia General Assembly
Robin Sizemore’s Advocacy for Andee’s Law – GPB News