How would we go about getting him an ID with his real name?

When my husband was younger, his mother divorced his birth father, because he was abusive, and later remarried. When she remarried, that man adopted my husband, and became his father. The problem is, apparently his mother never had his birth certificate changed. So all his documents (social security, our lease, utilities, etc) are all in one name, but his birth certificate is in another name. Now, he needs to get a state ID card, but they say all the names have to be the same. How would he go about getting his birth certificate changed at this point? His mother no longer has the adoption papers. He had an ID in a different state more than 6 years ago, but its expired, and been lost. We live in florida now.

Kim

If your husband was legally adopted, his birth certificate should have been changed as a standard part of the adoption proceedings. But, at least for us, they did not give us a copy of it during the proceedings. We had to wait several weeks for the paperwork to be processed then order a copy through the Vital Statistics office.

I'm guessing that his birth certificate *was* changed, but his mother never ordered a copy of the new one. I would check with the state Vital Statistics office in the state where the adoption took place. If they have it on file, that would be the easiest solution.

If a formal adoption did not take place, but the whole family just started using his stepfather's last name, then it would get a lot trickier. I think he would have to do a legal name change through the probate court. (And I'm still not sure he'd get a new birth certificate, but I would think a court decree showing a legal name change would also be acceptable to the ID card office.)

NannerBell Expecting #1

Call a lawyer in that field it may take a while but they should have records of the adoption on file in the state it took place....good luck

Angela R

If he was legally adopted, then his original birth certificate would no longer be legally valid, and he wouldn't be able to get an ID using it under that name. He should just be able to request a new ammended copy of his birth certificate from the state he was adopted in, as all of the information should have already been changed in their system.

He needs to contact the department of vital records in the state the adoption was finalized, and request a copy of the new certificate it shouldn't matter that it was a long time ago. He won't need the adoption papers for this, but if he wants a copy of the certificate of adoption, he should be able to request one as well.

sizesmith

Try applying for the amended birth certificate in his present name. It almost sounds like a legal adoption wasn't done.

Also, there might be a copy of the adoption decree in the school records if it's in a smaller town, and his name changed while he was of school age.

The state where he had his ID card might also be able to issue a new card, which can then be taken to the new state, and transferred. When he goes to apply there, take every form of ID he has, including a medical record with name and date of birth, utility bill, social security card, and his driver's license.

Also, social security might actually have a copy of his name changing, because they'll have a reference number to a document that changed the name legally. With that information, the state might issue an ID card. Try applying for the birth certificate in the state he was born in, and in the state he lived in when his name was changed. The attorney who handled the paperwork should also have the adoption decree on file. Call them ahead of time, so that way, they'll have a chance to look it up. Your husband will need to call, and give as much information as possible about it, such as the dates, his first and present names, both parent's names, etc. Good luck!

Lori A

Won't his papers be sealed after getting that amended birth certificate? I would think it would be easier to change his name back to the original or at least hyphenate it. There will also come a day that someone needs his original info and if the original birth certificate he has now gets lost or damaged he will not be allowed to get another one.

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