§ 22-9A-9 — Delayed Registration of Birth

Alabama § 22-9A-9

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 22: Health, Mental Health, and Environmental Control
• Ch. 9A: Vital Statistics

Text

Any person born in the state whose birth has not been filed may have his or her birth registered by the State Registrar after complying with the requirements set forth below:
(1) Certificates of birth filed after the time specified in Section 22-9A-7 but within one year from the date of birth shall be registered on the standard form of live-birth certificate in the manner prescribed in Section 22-9A-7. The certificate shall not be marked “DELAYED REGISTRATION.” In any case where the certificate is signed by someone other than the attendant or person in charge of the institution where birth occurred, a notarized statement stating the reason why the certificate cannot be signed by the attendant shall be attached to the certificate. When the State Registrar has reasonable cause to question the adequacy of the registration, he or she may require additional evidence in support of the facts of birth.
(2) Certificates of birth filed after one year but within five years of the date of birth shall be registered on the form of live birth in use at the time of birth and the certificate shall be plainly marked “DELAYED REGISTRATION.” To be acceptable for filing, the certificate shall be signed by the physician or other person who attended the birth; or if the birth occurred in an institution, the person in charge of the institution may sign the certificate. If the physician or other person who attended the birth is not available, and the birth did not occur in an institution, the certificate may be signed by one of the parents, if a notarized statement is attached to the certificate giving the reason why the certificate cannot be signed by the attendant. Additional requirements for filing certificates of birth after one year but within five years shall be set by rules of the board.
(3) Certificates of birth filed five years or more after the date of birth may be filed for living persons and shall be made on a delayed certificate of birth form prescribed by the State Registrar and shall show on their face the date of the delayed registration. A summary statement of the evidence submitted in support of the delayed registration shall be endorsed on the certificate.
a. Any living person born in this state whose birth is not recorded in this state, or his or her parent, guardian, next of kin, or older person acting for the registrant and having personal knowledge of the facts of birth may request the registration of a delayed certificate of birth, subject to this section and instructions issued by the State Registrar.
b. Each delayed certificate of birth shall be signed and sworn to before an official authorized to administer oaths by the person whose birth is to be registered, if the person is 18 years of age or over and is competent to sign and swear to the accuracy of the facts stated in the certificate; otherwise, the certificate shall be signed and sworn to by one of the following in the indicated order of priority:
1. One of the parents of the registrant.
2. The guardian of the registrant.
3. The next of kin of the registrant.
4. Any older person having personal knowledge of the facts of birth.
c. The minimum facts that shall be established by documentary evidence shall be each of the following:
1. The full name of the person at the time of birth.
2. The date of birth and place of birth.
3. The full maiden name of the mother.
4. The full name of the father, except that if the mother was not married either at the time of conception or birth, the name of the father shall not be entered on the delayed certificate.
d. To be acceptable for filing, the name of the registrant and the date and place of birth entered on a delayed certificate of birth shall be supported by at least three pieces of documentary evidence, only one of which may be an affidavit of personal knowledge. Facts of parentage shall be supported by at least one document which may be one of the documents described above other than an affidavit of personal knowledge. All documents submitted in support of the delayed birth registration shall be returned to the applicant.
e. Documents presented shall be from independent sources and shall be in the form of the original record or a duly certified copy or excerpt thereof from the custodian of the records or documents. All documents submitted in evidence, other than an affidavit of personal knowledge, shall have been established at least five years prior to the date of application or have been established prior to the tenth birthday of the applicant. An affidavit of personal knowledge, to be acceptable, shall be prepared by one of the parents, other relative, or any older person, and shall be signed before an official authorized to administer oaths. In all cases, the affiant shall be at least 10 years older than the applicant and have personal knowledge of the facts of birth.
(4) When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required in this section for delayed registration or when the State Registrar has reasonable cause to question the validity or adequacy of the sworn statement or the documentary evidence of the applicant, the State Registrar shall not register the delayed certificate of birth.
(5) Applications for delayed certificates which have not been completed within one year from the date of application may be dismissed at the discretion of the State Registrar. Upon dismissal, the State Registrar shall advise the applicant and all documents submitted in support of the registration shall be returned to the applicant.

Legislative History

(Acts 1992, No. 92-607, p. 1255, §9.)