Illinois adoptees often ask about an item found on some original birth certificates, usually where the birth father’s name should appear. Legally Omitted is sometimes written in place of a name.
Original birth certificates are created when a child is born, and before an adoption takes place. They potentially include the child’s birth name and the names, ages, and birthplaces for the birth parents. When a child is adopted, an amended birth certificate is created. It lists the name the adoptive parents gave the child, and his or her adoptive parents’ names.
A birth father’s name does not always appear on a birth certificate, and sometimes a birth mother’s name is not listed. Some assume that the lack of a birth parent’s name indicates that their identity was unknown. While possible, it is far more likely that the birth parents were not married to one another.
Some claim it was illegal for the information to be left from the record. In general, that is incorrect.
So, what gives?
We need to turn to the law to determine why “legally omitted” was found on birth certificates.
To find a law, consider what category that law falls into. A birth certificate is a vital record, so the laws regarding vital records need to be checked. It is easiest to look for laws by topic, so a compiled or revised set of statutes will be reviewed first. Compiled and revised statutes clump laws by topic – they present them in their codified form.
In Illinois post-adoption research, the phrase Article 13 is sometimes heard when legally omitted names are discussed. Article 13 of what? I decided to find out.
I turned to Courtright’s Illinois Statutes,[1] a book of annotated compiled statutes covering Illinois laws in force from 1874 through 1915. It is the most complete compilation of older Illinois statutes in my current virtual law library.
The volume is divided by chapters, which organize laws by topic. Chapter 147 covers the State Board of Health, and “certificate of birth” is on page 2020. I found the answer there.
Chapter 147. State Board of Health. Section 29. Certificate of Birth.
William H. Courtright, ed., Courtright’s Illinois Statutes (Chicago, Illinois: The W. H Courtright Publishing Co., 1916), 2020; digital image, Google Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 21 November 2014).
29. Certificate of birth.
“That the certificate of birth shall contain at least the items of the standard certificate of birth as approved and adopted by the United States Bureau of the Census: Provided, that the certificate of birth and record thereof required by this Act shall not, in the case of an illegitimate child, contain the name of [or] other identifying fact, relating to the father or reputed father or to the mother thereof, without the consent of said father or reputed father to the use of his name, nor the use of the name of the mother without her consent to the use of her name. [L. ’15, p. 665, § 13.]”[2]
Article 13, found. Except it was actually a section – Section 13. The notation in square brackets shows where the law was printed in the session laws: Laws of 1915, page 665, section 13.
It was time to head to the session laws in my virtual law library. Session laws are laws passed by a legislative session. They are printed in chronological order.
The 49th General Assembly produced more than one session laws volume for 1915. I started with the first book, 1915 Illinois Laws],[3] and found the law there.
State Board of Health, Registration of Births and Deaths [Senate Bill No. 213 Approved June 22, 1915]
Laws of the State of Illinois Enacted by the Forty-ninth General Assembly at the Regular Biennial Session Begun and Held at the Capitol, in the City of Springfield, on the Sixth Day of January, A. D. 1915, and Adjourned Sine Die on the Thirtieth Day of June, A. D. 1915 (Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Journal Co., 1915); digital image, Google Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 21 November 2014).
Aside from the italicized word, the law was identical to the one in the compiled book.
This 1915 law is why so many birth certificates listed “legally omitted” in place of a father’s name. It also confirms that a birth mother could once elect to have her name left from the birth certificate. This law applied to any Illinois birth certificate created when a child’s parents were not married to one another.
Like any research, a find leads to more questions. What did the Bureau of the Census deem should be collected on a birth record? How long was this statute in effect? What is the law today?
The census bureau question needs to wait for another time. How long the statute was in effect was not determined in this research session, due to a gap in my virtual law library. But I can certainly check to see if a version of this law is still on the books.
Let’s head to the current Illinois Compiled Statutes.[4]
The chapter number has changed, but the topical arrangement makes the law regarding birth records easy to locate.
I found the Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535, under Public Health.[5] Section 12 has language regarding treatment of the father’s name when the child’s parents are not married to one another.
“Health and Safety: Chapter 410, Public Health,” Illinois General Assembly (http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs2.asp?ChapterID=35 : accessed 21 November 2014).
Somewhere between 1915 and 2014, the language that allowed a birth mother to have her name omitted from the birth certificate was removed. A few compiled statute volumes would clear up the timing of that change.
For today, I’m satisfied with the research results. Section 13, now Section 12, was found in its original and its present forms. Legally Omitted. It is the bane of those who hold birth certificates and ask who – just before they ask why.
No father on my original. So maybe the same here in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts laws that were in place when you were born may hold an answer for you. The law may have had similar provisions. Vital records laws like the one I located are state laws, so they vary from state to state.
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Is there any way that you know of to find out the name of a “legally omitted” biological father of an adoptee? I also cannot find record one of my birth mother. It’s as if she has vanished and/or never really existed. Or, perhaps it’s the site I’ve been using. I hope it is the latter. So, I am also looking for any living relatives of hers. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Identifying the name of a person who was left unnamed in a record can be challenging. Illinois is beginning to allow some birth fathers’ names to be shared only in certain circumstances, such as in the case of a missing original birth certificate. But those names must appear in the court file. I suggest that you consider DNA testing, which will link you to matches with biological family members. There are several DNA testing company links on my blog and website. Ancestry, 23AndMe, and Family Tree DNA are all good companies. Begin with an autosomal DNA test. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your response. I have found my birth mother and two half sisters and a whole other family. As far as the father is concerned, the mother says he never knew that she was pregnant, and that she never told anyone who he was. And, then, she claimed she doesn’t remember his name. In those days, the father had to give his written consent for his name to appear. He did not know about me. I doubt very much that he can be found. Only the mother could say, and she is not willing. I’m considering a DNA test, but, since I already know my birth mother, I do not think it would help much. I want to find out his ethnicity, but was told that the tests may or may not show it.
Autosomal DNA tests show matches from both sides of your biological family tree, so one could indeed help to identify family members on your biological father’s side. If your biological mother, or another of her family members would also test with the same company, you would be able to know which matches are from your bio mother’s side. That ones that do not match her are from your bio father’s side. A lot of adoptees test with Ancestry first, then upload their raw data to GEDMatch (free), and Family Tree DNA (a small fee to see matches). Uploading raw data gives you more matches. Autosomal DNA tests do suggest ethnicity, although those are suggestions based on known samples from different groups of people. Not every ethnic group is heavily represented.
This information was very helpful! Thank you!
I am one of those babies born in Illinois with Legally Omitted on my birth certificate. Thank you sharing this information and answering my question regarding why it was done.
My father’s name was legally omitted as well. I was born in Kane County, Aurora Illinois at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in 1968.
As I approach my 69th year of life and even more impending anniversary of my mother’s death the week before Mother’s day, perhaps I will treat myself to a DNA test to at least find out what DNA might be from the father unknown otherwise listed as “legally omitted” on my birth certificate. Top of my bucket list. Mother said it was none of my business when I asked.
Treat yourself! DNA tests are like potato chips, though. It is hard to stop with one.