Posted by VT_Syrup on 2/1/12 2:19pm
Msg #410528

An ounce of prevention in Vermont

The Vermont House of Representatives has passed, and sent to the Senate, a bill about vital records. it may be read at

http://leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/bills/House/H-454.pdf

If passed, mailed requests for certified birth and death certificates will have a new notarization requirements:

- Photo ID must be included; in one spot they don't mention copies being ok, in another spot copies are ok (it's contradictory).

- "An application submitted by mail shall include a notary public statement of identification of the applicant."

- Notarized statements shall not be accepted in lieu of a valid government-issued identification document.

The bill does not say what the wording of the "notary public statement of identification of the applicant" should be; presumably the health commissioner will create a form. If it isn't created carefully, it will be illegal for many US and foreign notaries to fill out the statement. (It will be OK for Vermont notaries, since Vermont notaries can do anything allowed by Vermont law, even it isn't in the part of the law that mainly discusses notaries). So the poor person who was born in Vermont but moved will be screwed.

So Vermonters, complain to your senator and as them to fix it. I would suggest changing "An application submitted by mail shall include a notary public statement of identification of the applicant." be changed to "An application submitted by mail shall be acknowledged by the applicant before a notary public."

Reply by NJDiva on 2/1/12 9:19pm
Msg #410586

That's crazy! Many, Many years ago...

I had to mail away to GA to get a copy of my birth certificate so that I could GET and ID!!!

How exactly is that going to work? lol That's the most asinine thing I've heard in a while...I think...lol...maybe not the most!

Reply by ikando on 2/1/12 9:56pm
Msg #410594

Re: That's crazy! Many, Many years ago...

I'm having trouble putting my head around the concept, too. If a purse has been stolen and the person needs to get a replacement ID and/or SS card, how will a born-in-Vermont out-of-state resident be able to comply?

Reply by VT_Syrup on 2/2/12 9:48am
Msg #410609

Re: That's crazy! Many, Many years ago...

If you read the bill, you will see the registrar of vital statistics may accept other forms of ID if the person can't produce the ones listed in the bill, and the applicant can hope for the best. If the registrar denies the request, the applicant can sue to receive the certificate. I'm a disaster volunteer, and the house fire victims I've interviewed would have trouble buying gas to drive to the nearest notary, never mind paying a lawyer to sue the State of Vermont.

Reply by jba/fl on 2/2/12 11:15am
Msg #410620

Re: That's crazy! Many, Many years ago...

I know that I am not alone when I say I would notarize for free in these type situations....I think that you would as well. Sometimes we just get the job done and only worry about getting it done. I could even do limited driving, again, I am not alone either.

My experience: disasters bring out the best in people (I DID NOT say ALL) as by and large we like being helpful.