Family
Articles tagged Family from The VRO Blog.
Certificate of Foreign Birth: The U.S. Birth Certificate for an Internationally Adopted Child
Your child is a U.S. citizen but was born abroad, so no state recorded the birth. A Certificate of Foreign Birth fills that gap — and it explicitly is not proof of citizenship.
What the County Clerk Actually Wants Before They'll Issue a Marriage License
Marriage licensing is a county function and there is no national checklist. Three counties, three different answers, and two situations that reliably derail an appointment.
Who Actually Reports a Death to Social Security — and Why the Funeral Home's Report Isn't the End of It
The funeral home usually tells SSA. That report stops payments; it does not start a claim, and it does not produce the certified copy every other institution wants.
When Does a Vital Record Become Public? State Access Windows for Family Researchers
Some states open birth records after 75 years. One waits 125. Others never use a clock at all. Here is how the three models work and what several states actually do.
Virginia Adoptees Can Now Get Their Original Birth Certificate Without a Court Order
House Bill 301 took effect July 1, 2026, removing the court-order requirement for adult adoptees born in Virginia. Here is what changed and how the new request works.
Your Baby's First Year of Paperwork: Birth Certificate, SSN, and Passport in Order
The documents of a baby's first year depend on each other in a fixed sequence. Here is what unlocks what, and which deadlines are real.
When the Record Predates Statewide Registration: Genealogy Without a Birth Certificate
Statewide birth registration did not exist in most states until the early 1900s. If your ancestor was born before it reached their state, no certificate was ever created. Here is what stands in for it.
Ordering a Death Certificate When the Death Happened in Another State
The death certificate is held by the state where the death occurred, not where the person lived. Here is how to order across state lines and why eligibility rules change at the border.
How to Apply for a U.S. Passport for a Child in 2026: A Parent’s Guide
Applying for a child’s U.S. passport? Learn the DS-11 rules for minors under 16, required documents, both-parent consent, fees, and timing for 2026.