Certificate of descent
Overview
The certificate of descent was abolished on January 1, 2009, by the Civil Status Reform Act. With the abolition of the certificate of descent, an adoption can now only be established by means of a “certified registry extract” of the birth record.
The certificate of descent served as proof of a child’s birth. It contained additional information (such as name changes or the registration of an adoption) that is not recorded on the birth certificate.
The certificate of descent was required for marriages, as it allowed the biological parents to be identified. The birth certificate lists only the legal parents. The purpose of the certificate of descent was to identify impediments to marriage in the case of adopted children.