birth certificate?

[floridian]

anyone know about birth certificates?

when i was 4 years old, my mom remarried and her new husband adopted me, thus legally changing my name...

for family archives, i wanted a copy of my original birth certificate in my original name...

i called the bureau in atlanta to request it and was told that it was sealed and i can never access it... yes, i know my paternal father (deceased) and all necessary info...

so there is no way i can ever get a copy?

[southernbelle]

I don't have any personal experiences but they might have sealed it to prevent you from obtaining more than one birth certificate and using multiple identities (not saying you would do that).

If I were you, I would try again (perhaps with a supervisor) and explain your reasons. There must be a way. Good luck.

[Flamingo]

Since your name was legally changed, I don't believe legally there is a way to get a birth certificate in your original name. Check the adoption laws and/or name change laws for the State of Georgia.

[floridian]

well, i know that it sounds suspicious on a bk forum to ask such a question.... my brother had his name legally changed back when he became of age and i could do the same....
i figured it was to protect those who gave up their kids for adoption etc...

and, to prevent fraud, all they would have to due is to stamp it void or something.... but the having it sealed, is the part that i cant understand..

[Over our heads]

In the adoption world, the word I hear is the only person who can request the original BC is the birth mother, and this must be done before the new name BC is issued. So unless your mother has a copy of your original, I am afraid you might not be able to get it.

Mayhap your biological father had a copy in his possesion? Might you be able to contact any of his living family to see? You don't mention your mother, but, odds are she did have your BC from your birth til your adoption and name change. She did not have to relinquish it to get a new one. Unless there was some serious hard feelings, one just might think she still has it somewheres.

[Over our heads]

Oh, and all adoption records are sealed. Even our daughters who was just finalized a few months ago. If we should ever loose our certified copy of her decree, we have to go through a whole spiel to get another copy. But that is through the juvenile court and not the BofVS.

[floridian]

my mom said she turned in the original at the court hearing when i was 4...

its not that important after all these years, but now that they told me i cant have it, i want it..

[JRScott]

I've done genealogy but am certainly no expert.

As far as I know there is no way to get a copy of the original pre adoption. The only way would be for a copy to have survived in one of the parent's possession. It is possible your father's family may have a copy, and your mother could have one forgotten in a box someplace.

My mom was adopted, as are two of my cousins.

[Over our heads]

my mom said she turned in the original at the court hearing when i was 4...

its not that important after all these years, but now that they told me i cant have it, i want it..

It is important to you. And I can tell you that for adoptive parents NOW it is important to them to have that original BC for their kids. If this is a possibility, call a few adoption lawyers in you area and just put the question to them. Maybe just maybe, one of them can help!

Somewhere in the great wide world of records, your original is there. Don't give up!