Conference moira::parenting_v3

I don't know about all states, but in Colorado if the name of the child
changes, then you can get the birth certificate to reflect this.

*sigh*.  I've been meaning to do this for Evan for over 3 years now.  :-}

      Carol

Our lawyer took care of this, as just one of the many kazillion Court Petition
forms which is part of the adoption process  (keeping in mind that we choose
to keep our baby's identity "sealed", under very heavy suggestions from our
adoption attorney -- as once sealed, you can have it opened ... but if you
don't seal it at the time of the adoption, you can't later "seal" it).

If I remember correctly ... our lawyer prepared ALL THE PAPERS AND FORMS and
had them signed by the many people involved and all the proper documents and
statements attached to other forms and properly packaged and forwarded
here, there or wherever.

The day of the Court Hearing (just minutes before the actual Judge's Chambers
hearing -- approval!), a Probate Court officer came out and got Jim/me and
brought us to a private corner.  A "new" birth certificate (filled out as if
we were the birthing mother and father!!, Julianne's "new" name, and the
actual birth information) was presented to Jim/I for "signature".

After the Judge's Chambers hearing (adoption was approved), the Court
would forward the new birth certificate to the town Juli was born in --
I'm guessing with the Adoption Petition and any other pertinent documents --
(all records would be updated as the "public record", and all original
records would be locked and sealed (literally!).  There'a a whole other
process around when and how these original records can be "UN=sealed".
Because we know Julianne's identity, we were privy to all information.
Had the adoption been UN-identified, the agency would have concealed all
birthing information from us.  A search of the "records" (birth certificate,
adoption papers, etc. will NOT disclose Julianne's original name and
birthing information ... although Jim/I know it, as does our lawyer and
the agency, and Court).

I think we had to wait the 6 months (required in Massachusetts!) for an
adoption to become finalized (following the Chambers hearing) before her
new birth certificate issued.  We then forwarded it to Social Security, etc.

Even though Juli was not "legally" Julianne Jensen, we still used that as
her legal name (family, Pedi, medical/dental/life insurance, etc.).  When
you think about it, very few people require a certified birth certificate.
If you sa your kid is "Juli Jensen", they make up a folder label accordingly!!!

I'm sure your adoption process is a lot less complicated than a newborn
adoption.  I still believe (based on data from the adoption attorney) that
the Court actually types up and has you execute the new birth certificate
and then sends it off to the Town Hall (along with any necessary papers).
(We did receive a form letter from the Town Hall when Juli's new birth
certificate was "now available", along with an ordering form.)

Hope this helps ... each state is definately different.

Good luck.
Dottie

    Just a quick one on this, it is YOUR responsibility to notify the
    Social Security administration of a change of name.  Whether its
    through adoption or marriage or even divorce.  They claim that if your
    name and SS number do not agree with their records, they may delay any
    refund you have coming from income tax, it could possibly delay
    benefits such as unemployment or death that you may apply for as well.
    
    (Well at least that's what the latest "public service announcement"
    said on the radio a couple weeks ago.)
    
    Now getting to the actual SS office in Worcester, that's another great
    adventure.....big building, several floors up, parking nonexistant, and
    don't bother trying to get a baby carriage up to their area, and of
    course don't forget about "take a number and wait in line....."!!
    
    Lyn

    I have also seen notices in the newspaper, petitioning the child's
    parent (usually father) to show up in court if s/he wishes to
    contest the adoption and/or name change.  It depends on the
    state, but I feel pretty certain that some kind of public notification
    is required (even if it is printed in teensy-weensy type in the
    back pages of Tuesday's newspaper).
    
    And yes, it is indeed your responsibility to notify Social
    Security of any name changes, as .3 pointed out.  No one will do
    it for you -- although when Hollis was born, the hospital forwarded
    her name, birthdate, etc., to the Social Security Administration
    and I received her Social Security card in the mail about 8-10
    weeks later.  How odd, to have a Social Security card for a little
    miss who can't even sit up alone yet!!

    re .3
    
    ...to digress a bit - When my sister got married she never told SS, and
    just filed her taxes under her married name w/out any problems.  3
    years later they tried to get her because she had never paid any taxes
    ... they were looking for her under her maiden name still!  Obviously,
    it got straightened out, but not without a little undo stress first!
    
    Patty
    

Which also brings to thought ...

	at a certain age (2 years old?), the IRS will REQUIRE that
	all your dependents (children!) have SS numbers on your
	tax return form.

Not sure what the penalty/consequence is for not having the SS number,
but our tax accountant harped on us so BADLY the first year, we made
absolutely sure we had Juli's SS the second year (had to wait for the
adoption to be finalized and the new birth certificate to issue).

I suspect SS would have required us to obtain a SS number in her "birth name"
had the adoption not cleared before her second birthday.
	

re: .6

It's only required if you want to claim a child as a dependent on your tax
return.

Bob

as said in .7, you only need a SS# if you want to claim them as deductions.
If you do not have SS#s for your kids, you may be charged a fine.  If your
children have social security numbers, they are required to give them when
applying for a passport.  there is no penalty for not having them, just for
not using them if you do have one.

I know this because I have no SS# for my two boys.  I don't want them in any
more American computers than necessary.  Every time I go to get their passports
renewed the office staff tries to convince me that I am required to have SS#s
for the boys but if you read what that regulations say in the small print, it
only says that if you have them you have to use them.

:-)  Cheryl, the *just-barely* compliant

    Four years ago I went to the social security office in Nashua and
    applied for my newborn daughter.  They then yelled at me because my
    daughter couldn't sign the application.  When I told them that I was
    signing it as her legal guardian because she was a newborn, they yelled
    at me again saying that a newborn doesn't need one.  I got one anyway.
    
    When I had Krystin 1 year ago, the hospital took care of everything,
    all I had to do was sign where necessary and they mailed them out for
    me.
    
    I've run into the same problem with my kids bank accounts.  We opened
    an account for Alyssa, but we could only put one parents name on the
    bank account.  Because three names weren't allowed.
    
    So I guess you run into problems no matter what you do.