Argentina: Procedure for changing the family name of a child from Buenos Aires between 1994 and 2001, if the mother of the child was married to a man who was not the father of the child; whether special procedures needed to be followed if the biological father could not be found; legal documents provided by the authorities as evidence that the name had been changed; whether the register of births was changed when the child's family name was changed

According to several sources, it is possible for a person to adopt the child of his or her spouse in Argentina (Estudio Jurídico Virtual n.d.; Argentina 1997; Asociación de Abogados de Buenos Aires Apr. 2000). This practice is known as integration adoption (adopción de integración) (ibid.; Estudio Jurídico Virtual n.d.). A person can adopt the child of his or her spouse in two ways: by simple adoption (adopción simple) or by full adoption (adopción plena), depending on the circumstances (ibid.; Argentina 1997). In the case of simple adoption, the pre-existing relationship with the biological parent(s) (lazos de parentesco) is in part maintained and the adoption is revocable, while in the case of full adoption, this relationship is severed and the adoption is irrevocable (Defiendase.com 16 Jan. 2002).

According to two sources, adopted children carry the family name of the person who adopts them (Argentina 1997, art. 326 and art. 332; Portal de Abogados n.d.). According to the Argentinean Website Portal de Abogados, in the case of adoption of a child under the age of six, the adoptive parents can request that the child's family name be changed (ibid.). When a child over the age of six is adopted, the parents can request that a family name be added to the child's name, as long as the child does not have more than three family names (ibid.). Still according to the same source, in the case of full adoption, the original birth certificate becomes void (se bloquea el acta de nacimiento primitiva) and a new birth certificate is issued for the child, in addition to a legal attestation (testimonio), which is necessary to obtain a new national identity document (Documento Nacional de Identidad, DNI) for the child (ibid.). It is also worth noting that a court order (orden judicial) is required to make any changes to a child's name (ibid.).

No additional information on the above-mentioned subject could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints for this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Argentina. 1997. Ley No 24.779-Régimen de adopción. [Accessed 6 June 2003]

Asociación de Abogados de Buenos Aires. April 2000. Syliva Beatriz Rabinovich. "Adopción del hijo del cónyuge. Su tratamiento en el proyecto de reforma del Código Civil. Una propuesta acertada." [Accessed 5 June 2003]

Defiendase.com. 16 January 2002. "Cómo evitar esperas interminables." [Accessed 5 June 2003]

Estudio Jurídico Virtual. n.d. "Cuestiones de familia." [Accessed 5 June 2003]

Portal de Abogados. n.d. "Normas Dirección General del Registro Civil, para inscripciones." [Accessed 5 June 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

The Embassy of Argentina could not reply to a request for information within the time constraints.

Internet sites, including:

Argentina Jurídica

Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

Portal de Abogados

Registro Nacional de las Personas

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