BON wants my adoption decree!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in med-surg/or/ambulatory/geriatric psyc.

I have passed NCLEX and have started RN school.........why does the BON want my adoption decree from when I was a child? Has anyone else ever heard of this?

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To make sure your name is legal?

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Specializes in med-surg/or/ambulatory/geriatric psyc.
To make sure your name is legal?

Well, I am pretty sure that is what they want, but everyone I have talked to (several experienced nurses, etc) they said they had never heard of them wanting that due to my b-certificate having my adopted name on it. And no one knows how hard it is to get an adoption decree unless they have had to get one..........sealed records. I have called and written letters, etc until I am blue in the face trying to get it. I believe that this last step I have taken is either going to get it for me or I am s.o.l. My adopted parents are both deceased, so I don't know where to go from here.........any suggestions?

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I would ask your school to make a contact on your behalf. It seems like an unreasonable request.

Another alternative would be to call BON directly and try to resolve this issue.

Third, call your state representative and ask them to make an inquiry on your behalf.

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I would ask your school to make a contact on your behalf. It seems like an unreasonable request.

Another alternative would be to call BON directly and try to resolve this issue.

Third, call your state representative and ask them to make an inquiry on your behalf.

I agree with this. We have a wonderful state representative that when something like your situation is pressing, he is very good about moving heaven and earth to make things happen.

Could it possibly be that they want the paperwork given to your parents by the court that proved the adoption was a legal one? I'm only throwing that out there because that should be a document they should have and should have mentioned your legal name in the docs, signed by a judge, to prove you are the same individual that is on your birth certificate. Such a record should not be sealed because it's not going to list any information about the biological mother/father.

I have a feeling that is the information that they are looking for, because in a few state, any court document stating your original name at birth or your biological parents can never be opened, even after someone is deceased....and the BON would HAVE to be aware if it was located in such a state.

I'm going to take a wild guess that this may be along the lines of Homeland Security...we all know that a common way for people to forge documents is to research the death of a baby that was born in about you same birth year and order that birth certificate, and then start compiling docs based on that. This may be another "checkpoint" that BON's are using to make sure that only true citizens are getting licensed, so they are double checking docs on those that are adopted.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

How did they even know you were adopted? My birth certificate lists the names of my adopted parents with no reference to the fact that I was adopted shortly after birth. I don't think the BON knows of the circumstances of my birth and I have no idea where my adoption decree might be.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm adopted also - at the age of 2 years. My birth certificate has my adopted name on it. I've worked in NV, IN and IL and have never been asked any question about adoption. I would try to find out what they need this info for.

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i think this is completely unacceptable and unreasonable. can you provide your birth certificate instead? were you adopted overseas (if you don't mind me asking)? i have no idea why they would even ask about that information.

my boys are adopted and i have their decree in a safety deposit box. if you'd rather not fight it, i'd ask your mom she still has it tucked away somewhere. if not, contact the county probate court you where the adoption took place.

this fires me up. :angryfire

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

I agree, this request is suspect. If it were me, I would call and ask to speak with someone in authority and ask why they want it. If push comes to shove, involve your local state represemtative, he/she can cut thru the red tape, as long as you give him/her permission in writing.

Good luck

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in Critical Care.
i think this is completely unacceptable and unreasonable. can you provide your birth certificate instead? were you adopted overseas (if you don't mind me asking)? i have no idea why they would even ask about that information.

my boys are adopted and i have their decree in a safety deposit box. if you'd rather not fight it, i'd ask your mom she still has it tucked away somewhere. if not, contact the county probate court you where the adoption took place.

this fires me up. :angryfire

the op states that her adoptive parents are both deceased, so she can't ask her mother if its tucked away somewhere.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

As an adoptee myself from a state with sealed records, it is not always possible to get ahold of an adoption decree. Personally, I think this is ridiculous and an invasion of privacy. Unless someone provides me with a really solid reason as to why I need to produce this, I would be questioning the "why" of this request.

Perhaps there was a misunderstanding?

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the op states that her adoptive parents are both deceased, so she can't ask her mother if its tucked away somewhere.

i am so sorry, rn2008lpnfirst. i should have read the rest of the thread. i'm sorry for your loss.

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