WILL MY GF BE ABLE TO SIGN BIRTH CERTIFICATE

luvahb · April 2012

were thinkn abt getting a lawyer or attorney to make sure we go abt this the rright way jus not sure if there is a less hassle way to do this...we are a ssame sex couple and we successfully did an iui at a fertility center...ppl are sayn it no longer says mother and father in place it has second parent so any info wld be great..maybe shell have to adopt or what??help!

Two*True · April 2012

Whether or not a same-sex couple can put both names on the birth certificate depends on the state in which they live.

Whether or not adoption is even an option depends on the state in which you live.

Even if you can put both names on the certificate you will likely want to get the adoption (again, if your state allows it) because it gives you protections at the federal level and in other states.

ETA - contact an adoption lawyer in your area for most accurate advice.

leapgirl8 · April 2012

She will need to adopt. Birth certificates with both names are nice to have, but they don't mean much legally, especially if you move or travel. You need to contact an attorney who specializes in adoption. She won't be able to file for adoption before birth, but she can get the process started (background checks, physicals, or whatever is required by your state).

clairmeij · April 2012

Exactly what leapgirl8 said. We've got an adoption attorney who will arrange everything so that my partner's name can go on the birth certificate and that she can adopt her. The attorney will also arrange that, god forbid, if I were to die in childbirth, my partner will have full parental rights. I live in Colorado, so second parent adoption is allowed here.

hlke · April 2012

Like PPs have said, it all depends on your state for both the birth certificate and adoption.

Leap, I actually found out that in Illinois I can petition for adoption and we can sign the paperwork with our donor before the birth, it just doesn't get finalized with a judge until after birth. So strange how different it is in each state.

leapgirl8 · April 2012

That's great - I'm doing prelim stuff right now with our social worker and attorney, but nothing really moves until after the birth. Our social worker is coming for a several-hour home visit to observe us two weeks after the babies come home . . . I'm sure we'll just be at our best two weeks after bringing home twin newborns. (This is where I'd insert the eye-rolling smiley if I knew how to do it on a Mac.)

hlke · April 2012

Well, if you do well then, you've probably got it the rest of the time. (insert regular smiley if I knew how to do it on a Mac)

luvahb · April 2012

thanks so much for all the advice and info...evrything is a hurdle seems likek but well be fine..thx again..im in maryland so we havent jumped onboard yet..

2brides · April 2012

I am in Maryland too. The answer is no, you can't put your GFs name on the birth certificate at the hospital. You can, however, start the adoption process prior to the birth and have most of the documentation done. Once you give birth, you will need to sumbit the remaining documentation and petition the court. Our adoption was finalized with the kids were 7m (and the delay was because we had a hard time getting some final pieces of information.) And once the adoption is finalized, the new birth certificate will have parent 1 and parent 2 - so you will both be on the new birth certificate.

But in Maryland, you can put whatever last name on the birth certificate you choose.

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WILL MY GF BE ABLE TO SIGN BIRTH CERTIFICATE

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