How do I draft a "one and the same order"?
I want to apply for Italian citizenship through my parents/grandparents/great-grandparents however there are discrepancies with the names of my ancestors on official documents. I need a court order that states the different names refer to the same person. What do I need to submit the court to get this order?
Answer
Requests for "one and the same orders" have increased in the courts. This request is usually an Article 78 proceeding; see the FAQ on how to prepare an Article 78 proceeding. There is no DIY program for drafting a "one and the same" order. There are no sample forms or explanation of this procedure. The cases requesting "one and the same orders" listed below are posted on the Web Civil Supreme ecourts service. From Web Civil Supreme ecourts after entering the case's index number, there is an option to view efiled documents. Review those documents for sample language in your petition.
An attorney may be needed to manage this complicated procedure.
2024
Matter of Hudson, ___Misc 3d___, 2024 NY Slip Op 24251 [Sup Ct, Kings County Sept 24, 2024, Maslow, J., index No. 519394/2024 ) Does the Supreme Court possess that authority to issue “one and the same” orders for persons seeking to prove their ethnic heritage to a foreign country for the purpose of obtaining dual citizenship? There is no directly on-point appellate case law on the issuance of “one and the same” orders for these purposes, despite applications from persons of Italian heritage becoming more frequent due to the Republic of Italy's requirement that discrepancies in public birth, marriage, and death records be addressed by a court of competent jurisdiction. In considering this issue, the Court holds that the Supreme Court of this state may not issue such orders for the purpose of assisting applicants in their quest to obtain dual citizenship. DENIED
2023
Granese v New York State Dept. of Health [Sup Ct, NY County, June 22, 2023, Bannon, J., index No. 157401/2017] The petitioner, Judith Granese, a Nevada resident seeking dual American/Italian citizenship, petitions this court, in effect, to determine her personal lineage and direct American and Italian governmental authorities to accept the same. Citing to CPLR article 78, she asks the court to examine a number of filed documents, including birth, marriage and death certificates, and, disregarding purported errors and inconsistencies in those documents, determine that the documents are authentic and establish her right to Italian citizenship, and directing the respondent New York State Department of Health to amend its records. DENIED
2022
Spiezia, v New York City Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene Bureau of Vital Records, 2022 NY Slip Op 32498(U) (Sup Ct, NY County, July 26, 2022, Bluth, J. index No. 155196/2022) Petitioner contends that he is in the process of applying for dual citizenship with Italy. He claims that he wants to make numerous changes to the records of his deceased grandfather and his deceased grandmother while also seeking a "one and the same order" for his paternal great-grandfather, paternal great-grandmother, his paternal grandfather his paternal grandmother his mother and father. DENIED
Phillips v NY State Dept. of Health (In re Petition for Release of Vital Recs., [Sup Ct, Westchester County July 13, 2022, Koba, J., index No. 60717/2022]) By order to show cause (the "Motion"), petitioner seeks an order, pursuant to CPLR Art. 78 and Public Health Law Art. § 4174(1), for an order to be issued for the release of various vital records to assist petitioner in his application to obtain Italian-American dual citizenship through jure sanguinins1 (right of blood), and for such other relief as the court deems just and proper. GRANTED
Makaron v NY City Dept. of Health, [Sup Ct, Bronx County, Apr. 1, 2022, Alpert, J., index No. 808662/2021E]: This is an Article 78 proceeding in which the Petitioner seeks to compel the Respondents to amend his paternal Grandparents New York City marriage certificate and father's NYC The Petitioner claims that there is an error naming his paternal grandmother on the marriage license issued in 1938 as well as an error naming his paternal grandmother on his fathers birth in 1941. The Respondent's have not opposed the petition and have deferred to the Court whether the Petitioner has provided sufficient documentation to support the amendment GRANTED
2020
McGrath v New York State Dept. of Health, 67 Misc 3d 1243(A) [Sup Ct, Albany County, April 28, 2020, Hartman, J., index No. 3683-19] Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking to compel respondents New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the City Clerk of the City of Yonkers, New York to create and issue twelve copies of a long-form delayed birth certificate for his paternal grandfather, Raphael Albert Macaruso. Respondent DOH has answered and opposes the petition. Respondent City Clerk of the City of Yonkers, New York has not appeared. Because petitioner has not demonstrated a clear legal right to the relief he requests, the petition is denied. DENIED
2021
Petitioner v No. (In re Petition for Ord. of Affirmation in Application for Italian Dual Citizenship Peter Magri), [Sup Ct, Queens County Nov. 4, 2021, Esposito, J., index No. 713590/2021] upon consideration of the foregoing Petition for Order of Affirmation presented by Petitioner. Peter Magri, Jr., it is hereby ORDERED and DECREED that the name of Petitioner's Great-grandfather and Grandmother have changed over time through error and the desire of Petitioner's family members to be acclimated to the American culture. Petitioner's Great-grandfather ("Great-grandfather") named "Giambattista Tommasone" is the one and same person as "John Battista Tommasone" and "Giovanni Tommasini;" and Petitioner's Grandmother ("Grandmother") named "Vincenzina Tommasone" is the one and same person as "Vincenzina Tommasini" and "Virginia Tomasino." GRANTED
Albanese v NY State Dept. of Health, [Sup Ct, NY County, Mar. 30, 2021, Kotler, J., index No. 152261/21] Petitioner alleges in an attorney verified petition that he is in the process of applying for dual citizenship with Italy. In order to attain dual citizenship, petitioner asserts that he must provide certain documents demonstrating that he is a direct descendant of a natural born Italian citizen. Currently his father listed on [*2] his birth certificate is Otto Albanese. Petitioner claims that his father's legal first name was actually Attilio. In his sworn affidavit, petitioner states that he "anticipate[s] that the Italian Consulate may reject [his] application for dual citizenship due to "Otto" appearing on [his] birth certificate and [his] father's death certificate." GRANTED IN PART
2019
Matter of Severo v NY City Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene, 2019 NY Slip Op 31921[U] [Sup Ct, NY County, July 5, 2019, Rakower, J., index No. 153304/2019] Petitioners Lucas Severo ("Lucas") and Diana Severo Waller ("Diana") (collectively, "Petitioners") bring an Order to Show Cause requesting a declaratory judgment pursuant to CPLR § 3001 that Intrepita Libera Serpentini, Victoria Serpentini, and Victoria Severo are "one and the same person" and directing New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ("Respondent") to provide the certified extended/long form Birth Certificate with Letter of Exemplification of their grandmother Intrepita Serpentini. GRANTED IN PART
2018
Matter of MICHAEL S. SINGER, Plaintiff, v NY STATE Dept. OF HEALTH, Defendant., [Sup Ct, Dutchess County June 22, 2018, Brands, J., index No. 2018-50123] Petitioner Michael S. Singer filed the instant petition seeking an order pursuant to New York Public Health Law §4174 granting him access to certain vital records of his great-grandmother "Amelia Laudadio a/k/a Amelia Paggi" (see Amended Notice of Motion for Default Judgment). Petitioner contends that he is a Massachusetss resident seeking Italian dual citizenship by way of his great-grandmother. Petitioner submits what appears to be standard forms related to dual citizenship and Italian dual citizenship "Jure Sanguinis" or citizenship "by blood". RESUBMIT
2013
Matter of Gentile v NY City Dept. of Health Mental Hygiene, 2013 NY Slip Op 30441[U] [Sup Ct, NY County March 1, 2013, Kern, J., index No. 104473/12] Petitioner Glenn Gentile brings the instant petition to amend his Certificate of Birth (the "Certificate"). Respondent New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ("DOHMH") opposes the petition on the ground that there is insufficient evidence to amend the birth certificate. For the reasons set forth below, petitioner's petition is granted in part and denied in part. GRANTED IN PART
Links & Files
- 22 New York Code of Rules and Regulations 216.1(a) Sealing court records
- 24 Rules of The City of New York 207.01(c)
- Public Health Law § 4173 Records; transcripts and certifications by registrars; fees
- Public Health Law § 4174 Records; transcripts and certifications by commissioner; fees
- Web Civil Supreme
- What is an Article 78?
- Who is eligible to get a copy of a birth certificate?