Legal Director Emma Alfieri from our family team, has previously shared moving stories arising from successful applications for declarations of parentage. This latest case is another powerful example of how life‑changing such applications can be.
Richard, 57, was adopted in 1969 at the age of 13 months by loving parents who were always open with him about his adoption. Richard’s birth certificate displayed the name of his birth mother; however, the name of his father was blank.
In 2004, at age 36, Richard began exploring his heritage. After registering his consent for contact through the National Children’s Home, he received a letter just two weeks later from his brother Michael—born 13 months earlier and adopted by another family. Together, they established that they shared the same birth mother and believed they shared an Italian father that had been identified by Michael. Richard later once met his birth mother who confirmed this understanding.
Following a traumatic brain injury in 2016, Richard became deeply engaged in tracing his ancestry. His research included a trip to Sardinia and extensive online investigations.
When his birth mother passed away in 2018, he continued his DNA journey. As his research progressed, he became increasingly aware that he had no Italian DNA links.
In 2020, a Y chromosome test with his brother Michael confirmed that they did not share the same father. This news was a profound shock for Richard, who had lived his entire life believing he was half‑Italian. He experienced a great sense of loss and confusion about his identity.
Michael later met his own Italian father, who recalled that the brothers’ birth mother had been involved with a German man during the summer before Richard’s birth.
Determined to find answers, Richard continued researching. With the help of a distant relative in Canada, one name repeatedly surfaced — a German man we shall refer to as ‘Gunther’.
Further enquiries with Gunther’s family confirmed that he had worked at the same hotel as Richard’s mother and they had been inseparable for the few months they had worked together. Richard’s DNA results also indicated German heritage, supporting this possibility.
In May 2021, Richard met Gunther for the first time and their resemblance was evident. Gunther remembered Richard’s mother well and agreed immediately to undergo DNA testing. The court approved results provided a 99.99999% probability that Gunther was indeed Richard’s biological father. For Richard, this brought long‑awaited clarity and emotional completeness.
In Autumn 2023, having read the other success stories, Richard approached Greene & Greene seeking assistance to have Gunther’s name added to his birth certificate.
With Emma’s support, Richard applied to the court for a Declaration of Parentage. Although Gunther declined to attend the court hearing, this did not prevent Richard from obtaining a Declaration of Parentage as the evidence presented was strong and compelling. As a consequence, the court were quick to grant the declaration.
Richard’s birth certificate has now been formally amended to include Gunther’s name as Richard’s father. This outcome has provided Richard with the closure he had sought for many years, giving him certainty and finality about his paternal heritage.
Emma Alfieri is a Legal Director in our family team and has extensive experience advising clients in similar circumstances. Further articles in this series can be found here: “We are Family” – Long Lost Families – Closure for Colin in Correcting his Birth Certificate – Greene & Greene Long lost family – declaration of parentage
For more information or to discuss your own situation, please contact Emma via email emmaalfieri@greene-greene.com or call 01284 717459.
