STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Huguenot resident Joseph Pessolano, 58, set out in search of his birth parents days after his 21st birthday -- something he said he would have tried “so much sooner” had he been in possession of his birth certificate.

Pessolano was missing critical information, like his given name, that prevented him from attempting to locate them and that left him with questions about his family history.

It wasn’t until he received his adoption decree at 21 that he learned his full name, Christopher Anthony Ray, other critical information about himself and leads to his family.

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 15, New York adoptees will be able to obtain a copy of their certified birth certificate once they turn 18.

“Every person has the right to know where they come from, and this new law grants all New Yorkers the same unrestricted rights to their original birth records,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a statement.

“After years of being denied this basic human right, adoptees will finally be able to obtain critical information about their origins, family histories and medical backgrounds,” Cuomo said.

The new law also gives direct line descendants -- like a child, grandchild or great-grandchild -- the ability to request a copy of the adoptee’s birth certificate and eliminates any government agency’s ability to impose restrictions on an attempt to obtain the information.

OLD LAW IS ‘RIDICULOUS’

Pessolano called the old law “ridiculous.”

“A state cannot guarantee that any child will not look for their birth parents, and they cannot guarantee confidentiality even though they say that they do,'' Pessolano said. "So to prevent birth certificate access is ridiculous.”

Until now, an adoptee’s birth certificate was sealed once an adoption is finalized. An adoptee would need to petition the court and their biological parents, who would need to consent, for the birth certificate to be released.

“If I had [my birth certificate] I would have looked for my parents so much sooner,” he said.

Howard Zucker, state commissioner of health, said: “We are pleased to be implementing this law that will help adoptees access birth records that other New Yorkers have always been able to obtain."

“As an adoptee, most of us, we need three things: truth, validation, acceptance," Pessolano said. "Getting a birth certificate helps towards those things.”

Zucker said he’s expecting a high volume of requests in the coming weeks.

New York state residents can submit requests to the state Department of Health for their birth certificate. Those born in New York City must apply through the city Department of Health.

Adoptees are encouraged to apply online for efficiency, however, paper applications will be accepted via mail or in person.

Birth certificates will be issued via mail, per the state.

New York is the tenth state to provide unrestricted access to certified birth certificates.