A different birth certificate question

[Denine]

We just adopted our daughter at the end of October. She will be old enough to cruise after Christmas.
However, we won't have a birth certificate for her until her adoption is final, 6 months after she was placed in our home.
Is there any other documentation we could use?

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

Was she born in the USA? It was my understanding that birth certificates were public record. Why wouldn't you be able to just obtain a certified copy yourself?

Congratulations on the adoption of your child! How exciting!

 

[TnRobin]

Denine,

I would suggest that you call Cruise line. I am not fully aware of the legal situations in an adoption, but unless you are the child full legal guardian at the time of the cruise, you will need an affidavit from the child's legal guardian to take her out of the country.

 

[nedleycan]

I am very aware of adoption, as my neice was adopted. My sister didn't have complete rights to her until 6 months. I know that their birth-mother would have had no problem writing a note (just as a parent would do if the grandparents took them away) but I would only trust a government answer (and probably your adoption lawyer/service)... I wouldn't put all my faith in Disney knowing the correct procedure. This is a government issue not a cruiseline issue (I believe).

 

[Susan in Maine]

Is this the adoption of a US child or an international adoption? The rules are different depending on where the child was born.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I would check with the government agency for your locality that is handling the adoption. They may have a rule that you may not take your new baby outside of the country until everything has been finalized. You may need to reschedule your cruise.

 

[Denine]

Thanks for the replies. My daughter is born in the US. The adoption agency has full custody of her now, with us acting as the legal guardians. We are going to Disney in January and have to notify them so they know where she will be.
We don't have a cruise booked, but are trying to find out just in case.

She has a birth certificate, but it is in her birth parents names, which we obviously can't use. The new one will have us as the parents.

 

[FOJMO]

I would DEFINITELY check with the Adoption Agency about taking your child out of the country, or even out of the state. Our daughter was adopted from Korea and her adoption was not finalized until 6 months afterward (this was 16 yrs. ago). She is not legally your child until then. I would NOT chance it. Not even to WDW, unless you got something IN WRITING from the Adoption Agency stating you are allowed to go there.

You don't want to jeopardize anything now... plenty of time for vacation later.

Good luck!

 

[Denine]

We are definitely allowed to take her out of state. We just have to notify the agency. They were going to let us take her on our cruises in October, but she was too young.

 

[Denine]

We are definitely allowed to take her out of state. We just have to notify the agency. They were going to let us take her on our cruises in October, but she was too young.

 

[AprilsZoo]

I would just bring the current birth certificate, and copies (certified if possible) of your guardianship papers. Those two documents should have all the info necessary to show your custodial status.
And I agree, you should also get a Notarized statement from the agency that confirms that you have been given permission to take the baby on the cruise.

Have a fun trip.