I'm trying to get Italian citizenship. I am in fact entitled by law to get it but I have one serious problem.


I need to show a paper trail to prove that my family name from italy has moved down the generation by showing my among other things my grandparents marriage certificate but........

My Grandmother (name changed to protect) was born Concietta Bonano (In new york, during the 1920's, this is what it says on her birth certificate). Her entire family went by Americanized names [family went by the last name Bordo, she was and has always been known by and used the name Jean Bordo(these names were never legally changed], In fact she did not know her real name until she was married. She has gone by this Americanized name her entire life, everything is on this Americanized name, her social security her medicare, medicaid, retirement even her social security card has this name. So on her marriage certificate it says Jean Bordo, and on my mothers birth certificate it says Jean Bordo. Not Concietta Bonano.


My father, a retired family lawyer says to apply for affidavit to amend a marriage certificate, and a birth certificate. According to California law you cannot change the entire name on a birth certificate this way so this doesn't work.

I have talked to a bunch of clerks, people at the California department of vital statistics, 2 probate lawyers. It seems like the only way to do this is Via a court ordered name change.

But this presents a host of problems with the IRS, her pension, all sorts of things.

Any Ideas?