# Sister with newborn baby is getting divorced--shoud she put jerk father's name on the birth cert? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sister-with-newborn-baby-is-getting-divorced-shoud-she-put-jerk-fathers-name-on-the-birth-cert/555772 "2010-10-01T20:40:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sister-with-newborn-baby-is-getting-divorced-shoud-she-put-jerk-fathers-name-on-the-birth-cert/555772/41 "2010-10-05T03:11:41Z")
It has always troubled me that my bio dad’s name has never been on my birth certificate. Actually, it really ticks me off that my adopted dad’s name is on it now. I really wish it had never been changed. I have no issue with my mom’s husband adopting me, but don’t feel that my birth certificate is the place to have it noted. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sister-with-newborn-baby-is-getting-divorced-shoud-she-put-jerk-fathers-name-on-the-birth-cert/555772/42 "2010-10-05T03:24:15Z")
As a genealogist who has questions that will never be answered thanks to ancestors who saw nothing wrong in fibbing, fudging, lying, inventing, misremembering and plain ol’ omitting any detail they found slightly inconvenient, I urge your sister to remember that this certificate will go on existing long after everyone involved is dead and buried. Give your descendants the gift of accurate genealogical information instead of taking a cheap shot at an ex. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sister-with-newborn-baby-is-getting-divorced-shoud-she-put-jerk-fathers-name-on-the-birth-cert/555772/43 "2010-10-05T03:47:13Z")
Don’t forget Social Security. If the father is indeed crazy and becomes disabled it will be easier to get payments for the child through SS if the dad’s name is on the certificate. (Or if he dies) ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sister-with-newborn-baby-is-getting-divorced-shoud-she-put-jerk-fathers-name-on-the-birth-cert/555772/44 "2010-10-05T04:00:36Z")
> [@Otara](#): > > “When the father gets straight and back in a civil state” > > Its a huge assumption that that will happen, and that all of his behaviour can be put down to mental health issues, let alone cured by medication. > > Telling people to forgive someone who has made their life hell in these kinds of ways is generally uh, not helpful. > > Otara it’s a huge assumption that it is all the father’s fault too. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sister-with-newborn-baby-is-getting-divorced-shoud-she-put-jerk-fathers-name-on-the-birth-cert/555772/45 "2010-10-05T13:28:16Z")
> [@SP2263](#): > > Don’t forget Social Security. If the father is indeed crazy and becomes disabled it will be easier to get payments for the child through SS if the dad’s name is on the certificate. (Or if he dies) When my sons father died this was very important to him getting survivor benefits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sister-with-newborn-baby-is-getting-divorced-shoud-she-put-jerk-fathers-name-on-the-birth-cert/555772.md?page=2)