[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR219.39]

[Page 235]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
                  CHAPTER II--RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
 
PART 219_EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR PAYMENT--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart C_Evidence of Relationship
 
Sec. 219.39  Evidence of relationship by legal adoption--parent or child.

    (a) Preferred evidence. Preferred evidence of legal adoption is--
    (1) A copy of the decree or order of adoption, certified by the 
custodian of the record;
    (2) A photocopy of the decree or order of adoption; or
    (3) If the widow or widower adopted the child after the employee's 
death, the evidence described in paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this 
section; the widow's or widower's statement as to whether the child was 
living in the same household with the employee when the employee died 
(see Sec. Sec. 219.50 and 219.51); what support, if any, the child was 
getting from another person or organization; and if the widow or widower 
had a deemed valid marriage with the employee, evidence of that marriage 
(see Sec. 219.33).
    (b) Other evidence of legal adoption. In some states the record of 
adoption proceedings is sealed and cannot be obtained without a court 
order. In this event, the Board will accept as proof of adoption an 
official notice received by the adopting parents at the time of adoption 
that the adoption has been completed or a birth certificate issued as a 
result of the adoption proceeding.