Advertisements
I was born in 1946 and my mother died at my birth. I was later adopted by the woman my father married. At this time, her name was put on my birth certificate of live birth and all record of my natural mothers were eradicated. I would like to know how to obtain my original birth certificate with my natural mother's information on it. It was as if she never gave birth to me and I want to honor her. I do not dishonor my stepmother, I would just like the record corrected. thank you.
Like
Share
I don't think you can have your original birth certificate changed. When you were adopted, your amended birth certificate became THE birth certificate. This is the one you use. I know because, like you, I was a step parent adoption. However, because you are an adult, I think you MAY be able to change what you want to on this amended certificate, which is the one everyone sees. If I were you, I would contact the county vital records office where your certificate is on file or contact the vital records office of the state of your birth. Tell them that you want to amend your certificate and you want to know what you need to do that. If they won't change your mother's name, call an ADOPTION attorney. These are ones that ONLY DO ADOPTION LAW. They DON'T do adoption law as part of their family law or other practice. Ask them what you can do. If you can do this change, you will get your change when you go through the appropriate procedures. I know of people in my state that have changed their OWN names this way. So, it may work for parents. Good luck!
Advertisements
littletraveler, thank you so much for this information. My next thought was to contact an attorney as you suggested.
What really puzzles me about the fact that certificates were permanently changed, is that they were changed INCORRECTLY. As I have done alot of geneology over the past 20 yrs, if I were to follow a so-called "amended" birth certificate, all my findings would be false....the bloodline that I was following would be flawed..it would not be the true bloodline of the person..I would be following the wrong ancestors. Did not this ever occur to those making adoption laws? This makes no sense whatsoever to me.
Thank you again for your reply.
nutmeg
Nutmeg, like you, I love genealogy. There have been many times I have been in vital records offices over the years doing family history research and complained about how the certificates that are amended in adoption cases are fake and misleading and a nightmare when attempting to connect family relationships. In fact, on mine, my adoption certificate shows my mother and adoptive father living at the address my mother and biological father lived at when I was born! Now, if that's not misleading and a lie, I don't know what is. My state did this! I can completely relate to your feelings. I wish you luck in getting things changed with your local or state vital records office and if they don't agree consulting with an adoption attorney. Good luck!