Documents to Prove Family Relationship
When filing for a brother or sister:
o A copy of your birth certificate o A copy of your brother’s or sister’s birth certificate showing that you have at least one common parent, and
If you and your brother or sister have a common father but different mothers…
o Copies of the marriage certificates showing that your father was married to each mother AND o Copies of documents showing that any prior marriages of either your father or mothers were legally terminated
If you and your brother or sister are related through adoption…
o A copy of the adoption decree showing that the adoption took place before the child turned 16 years of age. o copies of evidence that each child was in the legal custody of and resided with the parents who adopted him or her for at least two years before or after adoption.
Note: If you adopted a child under 16 years of age, and you also adopted the older sibling of that child, you may file a petition for the older child if the adoption occurred before the older child turned 18 years of age. You must submit a copy of the adoption decree showing that the adoption of the sibling occurred before the sibling turned 18 years of age.
If you and your brother and sister are related through a stepparent…
o a copy of the marriage certificate of the stepparent to the child’s natural parent showing that the marriage occurred before the child turned 18 years of age o copies of documents showing that any prior marriages were legally terminated (if applicable) o a copy of the stepchild’s birth certificate.
If you and your brother and sister have a common father and either of you were not legitimated before you turned 18 years of age
o Evidence that your mother and father were married while your brother or sister was under 18 years of age, OR o Evidence that your brother or sister was legitimated under the law of the child’s residence or domicile or under the law of your residence or domicile, before the child reached 18 years of age OR o If your brother or sister was not legitimated before reaching 18 years of age, you must file your petition with copies of evidence that a genuine parent-child relationship existed between your brother and sister and the your father before the child reached 21 years of age. This may include evidence that your father lived with the child, supported him or her, or otherwise showed continuing parental interest in the child’s welfare.