No Birth Certificate Almost Meant No Baby

Not too long ago there was a story about a child that had been kidnapped. Or at least they thought they had been kidnapped. It ended up being a custody dispute, although that is not entirely correct either.

There was a young woman who was working for a fairly wealthy family and she found out she was pregnant. She claimed to have no family to help her out or anything. These people said she had been doing a good job for them and they would help in whatever way they could. They told the woman that as soon as the baby was born, they would help get her driver's license, etc. She told them she had tried before but did not have her birth certificate or any other necessary documents. Again, they said they would help her get everything that she would need.

Unbeknownst to the young woman the couple had been telling everyone that she had agreed to give the child to them for adoption and everyone knew the couple had been planning to adopt, so it seemed very plausible to them. They were even planning on a home birth and said they would find a midwife to help assist. About a week after the child was born she asked the couple about helping to obtain her necessary paperwork. Evidently they decided to keep the baby and told the woman she had to leave, that she wasn't welcome there any longer. The woman was in shock and called the police. When the police arrived they were told that yes the girl used to work for them and that she had told them she was leaving the baby with them and going away. This couple told the police that they were worried for the baby because the girl had to them that she didn't care about anything and would just as soon kill the baby.

In the interest of shortening the story the bottom line was that the young woman had nothing showing her name, age, etc. The couple had even given the police a copy of a letter that she had supposedly signed, but with no records, could not compare the signatures, etc. Of course the family's wealth probably had a lot to do with the law not moving as quickly as they should have, but of course that does happen. The cops were afraid that with no verifiable records the girl might have been trying to pull something over on the other couple.

Finally after DNA tests that were held up numerous times she could prove the baby was hers, but not her name. She was fortunate because some people that offered her legal help noticed the case. She finally got her baby back after several months of separation. And while this may be an extreme case it does show exactly how important your birth certificate and other legal documents are to you. If needed, contact a company that specializes in obtaining those types of documents and see what you need to do. Better safe than sorry.

New or Amended Birth Certificates

We all know that our birth certificate is most likely the most important document to have, as there are so many situations that may require you to produce one or a certified copy of one. Most of these situations are pretty cut and dried: It may be needed to apply for a social security card, it can be needed to register a child for school, to obtain a drivers license, marriage license and numerous other situations.

Have you or has anyone you know had a more specific need or reason to get his or her actual birth certificate changed or amended? For example, if you have changed your name as well as your gender there is specific paperwork that is required in order to change documents. And, not all states will just issue a new birth certificate some will issue an "amended" birth certificate noting the change of name and sex.

For instance in Alabama they will issue an amended birth certificate noting the change of sex and name but will not replace the original birth certificate. Whereas, California will change both name and sex and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. However most of the documents that are required to complete the paperwork is basically the same. You will normally need an original letter from your SRS surgeon and the original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. If you do not have a court ordered for the name change you can petition for one at the same time you petition for the new birth certificate.

Taking care of all the paperwork can be intimidating enough without knowing if you have everything that is required in your state. In that case you may want to contact a copy that specializes in obtaining certified copies of birth certificates. If nothing else they will be able to point you in the right direction for your particular state.

Once in a Lifetime Chance - China for the Olympics

You have a once in a lifetime chance of being at the opening ceremony for the XXIX Summer Olympics Games being hosted by the city of Beijing. Not everyone gets a chance at something like this, which is why you want to make sure that you have everything you need before leaving home.

Of course you have been planning this for a while so you already know what you will need, you are even current on what types of documents you will need when you travel. Meaning you will need your passport with at least six months remaining validity and at least one blank page along with a completed a Visa application form (yes both are needed).

As with everything, some details may get overlooked such as the passport needing at least six months validity left on it. So if you have less than that available you will need to see how to go about renewing the passport, among a few other options. However, all of the options require a certified copy of your birth certificate and you have no idea where that might be. Even if you are renewing a passport they normally want the birth certificate as well.

If you are not able to locate your birth certificate then you will have to request a certified copy of yours from your state. The processing times can be long and you need it now. In order to get all of this done in time for the opening ceremony you may want to contact a company that specializes in obtaining certified copies of birth certificates. Their vast knowledge ensures all details will be attended to and many times they have a way of expediting the process as well. See you in Beijing!

School Entry Records

Immunization records, birth certificates and school entry physicals, why do we need them? Quite simply, it's the law. When you register a child for school they normally require a copy of the child's birth certificate, current immunization records and a physical.

Because citizenship and date of birth need to be verified when enrolling for school it is suggested having a copy of the birth certificate will enable less paperwork. Of course there are other acceptable documents, certificate of baptism showing date of birth and place of baptism along with a sworn affidavit from the parent or guardian. A passport is also acceptable along with others.

There are some instances where a child may be exempt from providing some of these: the parent or guardian objects in writing stating it does not go along with their religious beliefs, or The Department of Health determines that, according to recognized standards of medical practice, any required immunization is unnecessary or hazardous. It has been suggested that even if you are seeking exemption of the immunizations for religious reasons it is probably more important to make sure you have a birth certificate as they tend to be more widely accepted.

By and large a birth certificate is the most acceptable proof of residency and date of birth. It is the one document that stays with you for life; even a social security number is not as important as a birth certificate. If you are not sure about the requirements necessary to obtain a certificate you may want to speak with a professional that will be able to tell you what to do and how to go about it.

A Victim of Identity Theft? Me?

Identity theft is something that many people think will never happen to them. I don't own anything of great value. That only happens to rich people. Trust me, there is not enough in my bank account for anyone to want to be me. Or even, why would anyone want to pretend to be me I am just your average working class stiff.

Perhaps those are exactly the reasons someone may be interested in your identity. Someone may want to "blend-in" in order to escape detection. Someone may want to "borrow" an identity in order hide his or her assets when going through a divorce, or being audited or even a defendant in a pending lawsuit. There are numerous reasons why someone may want your "average" identity.

Naturally there are many tips that will help to keep that from happening to you, but what if it is already done? What if you suddenly start receiving strange calls or letters from creditors stating you are behind on your car payments. Or the police show up at your door and you have no idea what they are talking about. It can happen to you, it happens to a John or Jane Doe every day.

Even if you succeed in straightening most incidents out there is still the aftermath of your ordeal. It may take years for everything to be settled. What if you need to apply for a passport? Just need to get a certified copy of your birth certificate, easy, right? Not necessarily, as now there are "flags" attached to your name and anything like that may require tons of paperwork and you need the documents in a hurry.

Consider contacting a company that specializes in obtaining certified documents, such as birth certificates. The simple fact that they are up to date on all current laws and requirements can save you a lot of time. They may also be able to expedite the process and you will be on your way quickly.

No Record of Your Birth

What happens if you need a birth certificate, perhaps to apply for a passport, and you don't have one? Not that you have lost it or that it was destroyed during a natural disaster. You were born in the United States but you do not have a birth certificate.

It is difficult enough to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate when it has simply been lost or damaged, which leads us to believe that it may be pretty difficult to obtain something that you never physically had. So, what would you do?

There are a few ways to go about it, but essentially all of them require basic paperwork. You will probably need a Letter of No Record, this must be issued by the state where you were born and must include your name, date of birth, exactly what years were searched when trying to locate your birth certificate and some type of certification from the state stating there is no birth certificate on file for you.

You may also want to include as many of the following documents that you can: a hospital birth certificate (usually a keepsake given to the parents), a doctor's record of postnatal care, early school record, family Bible record, a baptismal certificate and even a census record. These types of documents must be early public records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created within the first five years of your life. You may also file a Birth Affidavit from an older blood relative (parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, etc.) who has personal knowledge of your birth. This affidavit must be notarized and have the seal.

It can be pretty confusing and frustrating trying to keep track of all the forms and requirements that may be necessary. In order to save some time and maybe even stress, consider contacting a company that specializes in obtaining those types of documents. If nothing else at least they will be able to make sure you have done everything correctly, which of course may expedite the process.