Family book question

Colkurtz · Post by **Colkurtz** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:29 pm

I have a child who is a US citizen with a US passport but has not been registered as a Cambodian citizen yet. I’m not very involved in this part of the process but I think I understand that the first step is getting the name in the family book. Although we have been together for quite some time my Cambodian wife and I are not formally married (we did the ceremony without doing any paperwork).

The family seem to have a connection that will get the child’s name in the family book for a reasonable fee but only if my name as a foreigner is not included. This seems like it could create lots of future issues but I haven’t looked into it very closely yet. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I be concerned about my name not being registered as the official father? Will this interfere with anything with the US government?

Any input would be very much appreciated.

khmerhamster · Post by **khmerhamster** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:43 pm

You won’t get your name in the family book. You can get your name in the residence book but not family book.
Where was child born? If in Cambodia, do you have a birth certificate and are you listed as father?

PSD-Kiwi · Post by **PSD-Kiwi** » Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:53 pm

Does the child have a Cambodian Birth Certificate issued by the mother's registered Sangkat?

If not, then that is the first step. If the child was not born in Cambodia, then this step may involve significant tea money, and if more than 30 days since born, 2x witnesses and an application for Petition for a registration in the civil status of birth.

Then the child can be added to the same Family Book and/or Carnet de Residence which the mother is in. If you and the mother are legally married in Cambodia, then you can apply for your families own Carnet de Residence and your name can be included. Due to the wording in the Law on Marriage & Family, most Sangkat Chiefs will not put a foreigners name in a Family Book, but that depends on their interpretation of the law which states "foreigners may not be in possession of a family book".

*NOTE: Marriage Certificate only required supporting documentation for birth certificate if parents are legally married in Cambodia. There is NO legal requirement for the parents to be married for a child to be issued a birth cert with both parents listed, although some Sangkat Chiefs are clueless and ignorant of the law, in which case patience & persistence required, maybe tea money, presenting them with the relevant section of Law on Marriage & Family, or mediation via the Department of Identification may be necessary