I saw some old threads with this issue but am looking for additional advice. My grandparents (93 and 95) don't have any valid form of photo ID or proof of birth. My grandfather has an expired drivers license which won't be accepted as proof of birth or ID in NY. We can cobble together proof of identity based on utility bills, bank statements, tax returns, etc., but aren't able to find ANY documents with proof of birth (a requirement). They have no birth certificates--only baptism records. Complicating things further, neither of them use their given names (Vincenzo and Giovannina). I thought to try to request a search for their birth certificates from the Vital Records Office, but they may come back with names that don't match the names on all their other proofs of identity (bills, tax forms, etc.)!
They can normally get away with showing a medicare card, an expired ID, or Union member card for MD appointments and other mundane needs, however having zero form of valid gov't-issued ID seems irresponsible. My grandfather needed to have a pension form notarized to prove he was still alive and the banker only did it for him since he is a longtime customer....getting scary.
Anybody have any suggestions of how we can get things worked out to prove these people are who they have been for the past century (give or take)?
I had to pay for gurney transport for my Moms ID card, and I made an appointment so no waiting. She didn't need any paperwork, just her social and old ID card number.
Mom's favorite aunt had passed away a couple years ago, and about six months ago, my great-aunt's caregiver sent a box to Mom. In it was a corrected birth certificate that included Mom's first name! There was her baptism record and a couple affidavits from long-time friends. I thought, "How cool. I'll take her for her first government ID card!" That thought didn't last long as Mom was extremely hard to take out of the house, then having to wait in line at the DMV? Uh, no.
Anyway, 97yroldmom's advise is great about calling the agencies first and present the problem as well as other documents that support that she was your mother. Let them tell you what documents they'll accept. I'm sure they hear it all the time, and may be able to give you suggestions too. Good luck.
You’d look for your state government websites. You ought to be able to find instructions to do what you need. There should be a telephone number if you need to talk to a human about those pretty names and your problem with them.
The baptism certificates? Would the church keep records?
It took me a week to get everything on it’s way to my dad through the USPS.
Many people are known by names that are not the one on their birth certificate. Often different prices of govt I’d will have different names. My Uncle Bill has the name Bill, not William on his drivers license.
My step Mum is known by 3 different names, the most common one is a Nickname. My mother is called a different name than the one on her birth certificate too, but it has not been an issue.
Thinking it over most the people I know over 80 do not use their birth name. It should not be too complicated to work out.
I have a cousin in law who has a credit card issued in her first married name. She remarried 47 years ago, but never got around to changing the name on the card.
I would say go like a geneologist would so check where they went to school [grade & high] to see if they have records, then look to birth announcements in newspapers, try the church records & go to the dioceses if church no long there, try the local historical society where they were born, if born in a hospital try there [but most were home births in those days], see if any siblings have documents & try the way they got them
Be aware that many Italian catholics [I'm assuming from the names] had many names & often also had the name of the saint whose day they were born on as a name but rarely used it - however it might come first so check the date they were born for that - my grandmother also used a different birth date all her life because she used the date of her baptism which was off by 2 days from her actual birth date [I found it in the church records]
Depending on family issues they may actually be using their 2nd or 3rd name - my friend's husband is 1 of 4 sons named Joseph & 3 daughters named Marie so they all used 2nd & 3rd names which means don't discount those records you already looked at because they were a bit looser about things then - they are often called after grandparents or aunts or uncles so then there are 2 with same name so they use a middle name
By time they started school the parents enrolled them with the name they were called NOT THEIR ACTUAL FIRST NAME - good luck - I hope I gave you some leads
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