Adoptee Rights Law Center

Legal representation and advocacy for adult adopted people

Child Citizenship Act

The Unsettled Issues of Jonas Hubley’s Adoption

First published on • Last updated on

Important pieces are missing from the story being told about the adoption and immigration issues for Haitian adoptee Jonas Hubley.

The Kafkaesque Case of James Christian Werthmann

First published on • Last updated on

I’m not the first person to conjure up Kafka as a way to describe James Werthmann’s case. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recognized the absurdity immediately.

What’s an Original Birth Certificate?

Most adopted persons know what an original birth certificate (OBC) is. Many non-adopted people do not. An original birth certificate is the initial birth certificate created shortly after a person's birth. For most people, it is their only birth certificate.

For persons born and adopted in the United States, a new or "amended" birth certificate replaces the OBC once the adoption is final. In addition to replacing the original, the names of the birth parents are also replaced with the names of the adoptive parents. Some states may also alter or omit additional information on a new certificate, including the adoptee's specific place of birth.

Depending on state law, an original birth certificate is sealed and remains unavailable to the adopted person, even when they become an adult. If you are not adopted, your original birth certificate is your only birth certificate---and it is always available to you upon request.