What do we do about uncertain details about family members?

[goldfinger]

Hey there - I've asked a bit about this situation before, but wanted a bit more clarify -

My wife's doesn't have a father listed on her birth certificate, but the people on this forum advised that we should probably list as many details as we have about her biological father. She has been estranged from him for as long as she's lived, and he's deceased nowadays.

We went digging around for information and got quite a bit, but we can't be 100% certain of some of the details. We aren't privy to any type of official documents, so we kind of have to rely on the word of the people that we are getting this information from regarding date of birth, date of death, town of birth, etc.

Should we list what we "have" even in the face of that uncertainty? There is basically no chance that we are going to see a birth or death certificate. Should we explain in a letter or what-have-you? Essentially, I'm asking if we should list details like date of birth and town of birth even though we weren't really able to get it from any official documents and had to rely on the knowledge of others for this info?

 

[armoured]

Include what info you have or write unknown. If you feel important, write a short note.

But doubt the Govt is going to be concerned when the individual is deceased.

 

[goldfinger]

Include what info you have or write unknown. If you feel important, write a short note.

But doubt the Govt is going to be concerned when the individual is deceased.

We kind of have all of the information, but we didn't really get it off of official records. We got off of other people. I guess what I would say is that we have the information, but can only be SO certain about it's accuracy given that we didn't get it off of official records. Should we just put that down?

 

[armoured]

We kind of have all of the information, but we didn't really get it off of official records. We got off of other people. I guess what I would say is that we have the information, but can only be SO certain about it's accuracy given that we didn't get it off of official records. Should we just put that down?

Sure, that should be fine. Although there may be cases where govt wants precise information on family members (e.g. if there is some organised crime or other security concern), I believe mostly or partly it's for identification purposes.

In your case, put what you know and add a short note that you do not have official information, this is the info you have from relatives. You would probably be okay to write 'unknown' with similar short note.