Name changes and paper work

When babies are born, their biological mother has to name them and have a birth certificate issued. After the 60 days were up, we waited for the court to process the adoption application. Although the court papers took around 6 months to process, Alex was officially considered to be ours. In April 2005, we received paperwork from the Department of Social welfare stating that "According to the provisions of the Child Care Act 1983, your adopted child is now regarded as if born to you. Therefore you personally have to register the child under his or her new name and surname at the Department of Home Affairs nearest top you."

We took the papers to the Department of Home Affairs and applied for a name change and a new birth certificate. It is a very standard procedure involving long queues, inefficient staff, incorrect information and general mayhem. Eventually, I managed to submit the right forms with the right money! Around 8 weeks later, we received a brand new birth certificate from Home Affairs with Alex’s new name! The process was finally over! I applied for a passport for Alex and booked flight tickets to the UK. In July 2006, I took him to meet his great granddad (my grandfather – who lived to be 2 weeks short of 101!!) my sister and brother-in-law and all the cousins and friends that we have over there. Alex stole the show and crept into everyone’s hearts.