Full question:
I am a resident of Alabama. Two days back I found an abandoned baby covered in dirt in an alley. I took the child home and called the emergency services to check on any missing child reports in the city. They confirmed that they received no reports of missing children in the area and they are ready to take the baby into state custody. I contacted my attorney and am going to take up legal custody of the child. How do I go about obtaining a birth certificate for the baby? If he already has one in his name, what happens to it?
- Category: Paternity
- Date:
- State: Alabama
Answer:
In Alabama, if you assume custody of an abandoned baby, you can obtain a birth certificate following the provisions in Code of Ala. § 22-9A-8. You must report to the Office of Vital Statistics within five days, providing the following information:
- The date and place you found the baby.
- The baby's sex, race, and approximate birth date.
- Your name and address, or that of the institution caring for the child.
- The name you give to the child.
- Any other required information.
The place where the baby was found will be recorded as the place of birth. Your report will serve as the child's birth certificate.
If the child already has a birth certificate, it will be kept in a special file and can only be inspected with a court order. This allows the child, once they reach adulthood, to potentially seek information about their biological parents by requesting access to the original birth certificate.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.