One more OBC question?

Question

How do you know what is an OBC vs. one that is amended (or what else do you call a non OBC?)?

I have a birth certificate for the baby that I relinquished for adoption. It's from the State of Wyoming, has the seal, etc. It lists her name that I gave her (it was changed), her birthday, place of birth, a state file number, etc. It does not show any paternal information, although he was named. I'm not sure why it doesn't- maybe because he wasn't present at the hospital?

Is this her OBC?

Answer 1

Pretty amazing that you got a copy of your child's OBC! And footprints - wow! All I can say is wow! I tried to get a copy of the TPR that I signed in 1984 and was told that I wasn't allowed to receive a copy of that document - all adoption records sealed. Would you please tell me what legal documents you got copies of? I got nothing - absolutely nothing - I want to know how laws in states vary and in what year they were effective.

Robin: from what I know, I think that NJ for example has a  current law that states that adoptive parents can change the place of birth (city/county?) to reflect where they live vs where the child was born. Or maybe this is the law that they are trying to get passed. Either way, it's not right.

Gershom???

Answer 2

I was born in one state and adopted 3 years later in another state. My amended birth certificate has the name of the hospital I was born at, the city & state, date, etc.  My adoptive parents names are listed as "parents", of course.  This was the part that was amended. Some details, such as the time of my birth were not included on my amended birth certificate.

I'm pretty sure that no matter where a person is adopted, the amended birth certificate reflects the correct birth place (city & state).  This may not have always been true in decades past, when some unscrupulous doctors, lawyers, or agencies, changed facts or even filed OBC with the adopting parents names.  (not legal...BTW)

In some states, the father's name is not included on the birth certificate if the parents are not married at the time the child is born.  Even in this "new millineum".  Personally, I find that surprisingly archaic.  But, apparently, that's the law in many states.  Not sure about Wyoming...

Good luck

ETA: The named father on my OBC (of which I still can not get a copy) was my 1st mom's husband, who had abandoned her some years earlier.  The law in the state at the time I was born named the husband as the "legal" father.

Jessica, I'm shocked that a state would allow the birth place of a child (person/citizen) to be changed legally. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  Honestly, I thought it was illegal, basically the equivalent of fraud.  

"TPR", as I understand it, means termination of parental rights.  

Sarah, can you check with the state's birth index? Sometimes a child (who's been adopted) is listed twice (once with the birth name, once with the adopted name). Based on the date of birth, you might be able to verify the city recorded is the same, or has been changed?  Just a thought...good luck!

Oh...and it's probably best you didn't send the necklace along. Your child may not have received it. Hopefully, one day you can give it to her? I would have loved to receive something like that from my (1st) mom.

Answer 3

TPR - Termination of Parental Rights.

Sarah,

I adopted my son through foster care when he was 2 years old. His birth certificate (the one we have, not the original) lists my (now ex-) husband and I as the parents but the actual city where our son was born.

I hope that information helps.

Answer 4

If it's got the seal and all of the pertinent information with regard to you and your daughter, then it seems that yes, this is the original birth certificate.  The amended would have the seal and other information related to her birth, but it would not have the name you gave her on it.  It will have the name her aparents gave her.  It will also have no reference to you on it.

Answer 5

the one you have is the OBC, the one that she will see is the amended

Edit:

Sarah, I signed my rights in 2004  and while I also have her footprints on her crib card and I have what is termed an "open" adoption it is still hard.  It is not easier.  Maybe for you but not for anyone that I know.

My daughter has not 1 but a total of 3 BC.  There is the OBC and then there are 2 amened BC.

Answer 6

It may be up to the state but for our children's

The amended certificate should list the actual birth place and any other information.

The adoptive parents information at the time of the birth will be listed for the parents....

Answer 7

Arrg.  I know this is sneaky, but I need to "add details".  I'm sure you all will figure out my old account has been suspended, so this is the new me.  10,000 points down the drain.

Robin- thanks for the tip on the birth index!  If I can figure out how to see our state's birth index, I will definitely do that.

snowwillow-  wow.  I'm so surprised how different the adoption experience has become.   I stayed in the hospital with my baby for three days, as well as went to see her and her aparents at their hotel suite while we waited for everything to be finalized.  I have a lot of pictures, and so does my mom.  I didn't sleep in the hospital, so I also have lots of memories.  I can't imagine how it was to deliver and have the baby rushed off and have to beg to even know the s*x.  Not to mention the 100's of photos I've received of her since her birth, since we have/had (long story) an open adoption.  I also spent a weekend with her aparents when I was pregnant- they flew out to see me, so we had some talks there that helped them to know me, and I them.

Maybe this helps explain why it was so much easier for me than for others.

Answer 8

That is so cool that you have those things for your baby. In 1972, when I had my bdaughter, they wheeled me from the labor room  into the surgical ward so I wouldn't be with the other mommys and I had to beg to know her s*x. They didn't want to tell me.