Can anyone tell me what this means please - from 1972?

[FabIsDoingPrettyWell]

This is the certificate of birth of NAME OF CHILD marked 'A' referred to in the annexed consent to an adoption order by FATHER OF THE CHILD.

Bump

There's an adoption order attached to or filed with or annexed to the birth cert. The adoption order shows the father's consent to the adoption. The birth cert certifies the live birth of the child, and the child is referred to specifically by name or by some shorthand or initial in the adoption order. (?)

So does that mean the father signed to say the child could be adopted?

I would think that is the case.

I don't know what the law was back in 1972 about having both parents consent, or if a father could consent on his own if a mother was legally incapacitated or absent for some reason, or if a mother could consent to an adoption without the father's consent for whatever reason, and still be a valid adoption. I don't know what sort of proof of paternity would have been required back then either.

I find it very interesting as the parents weren't married, the father isn't named on the birth certificate but the child was given the father's surname. These days it seems that unmarried father's have to get legal parental rights.

It made me very this morning to read it.

Maybe the father and mother were sure about the paternity and the father agreed to the mother's wish to have the child adopted? It makes me sad to think maybe the mother and father loved the child and were attached to him or her but couldn't or weren't allowed to be permanent parents. Or that the mother had died or was incapable of raising the child and the father couldn't either, for some reason. Adoption can work out very well for everyone, though, but back then there was probably no such thing as open adoption -- once a child was placed, that was that.

How did you come across the documents, Fab, if I may ask?

Could it be that the mother married someone else and the child's natural father consented to the new husband adopting the child?

No question at all about paternity.

So far off the mark that the parents loved the child. Unfortunately the parents are still alive.

No, mother didn't marry. Father was agreeing to anyone adopting the child.

The document is in my file.

Oh Fab (have read some of your posts before about your childhood). Did it come as a surprise to you that he had agreed to it (thought you were fostered rather than adopted??) Maybe he thought it was for the best given the way your mother was?

I am surprised as I wouldn't have thought he had any rights as they weren't married.

I wasn't adopted. My mother changed her mind so I had constant moves from children's homes to foster homes my whole life.

It is all such a mess and I can't believe the social services were so taken in by my mother.

When I was 2 she said she wanted me adopted but they decided she just wanted a break.

Would you rather have not found out? I sometimes wonder about all the information that is given to adopted and fostered children when they come of age. It's a lot to come to terms with for some.(I wonder whilst accepting that everyone has the right to know their background)
It could be that your father thought you would stand more of a chance of 'normality' in your childhood.

I don't know why I am so upset really as I always knew my mother had put me up for adoption and then changed her mind. Why should I be so bothered that my dad signed me away?

I think people should have the info. Lots in my file is too painful to read but it does explain why I am the way I am about certain things.

xxxx Fab. It must be hard to see it starkly set out on documents in a file. Very impersonal, and it's such an important part of your life.

hi fab, your childhood was very much like mine. i tried to get hold of my social services file a few years ago but they said all my documents had been shredded as they only legally have to keep them for so many years. id have liked to have read it but i dont suppose it would have shed much light on my situation, though may have laid a few ghosts to rest for me.

its good that you have your file, even if you cant manage to read alot of it, at least youve got it for future reference.

i dont really know what i want to say or what the point of my waffle is, but i wish you well, hope you manage to make peace with the past.

I have a huge file, including lots I shouldn't have, but it is so hard to believe it is all about me a little girl.

I am a bit like that in that I am denial that that little girl was/is me. I refuse to admit it or acknowledge it.

The fact that you all share your experiences helps those of us with fostered and adopted children to understand better the sort of feelings they may be having to deal with. I dearly wish that there was some way I could help you but I suppose the next best thing is that I give as much emotional support as possible to my children.
I second vicar's sentiment in that I hope that you manage to make peace with the past and wish you the very best.

Thank you.

For the first time ever I felt today that I would be all right in the end.