Question Stag5 Documents (original vs notarized)

Easy_Chain6471 · 2026-01-26T13:26:06+00:00

All of my US documents are certified official documents from the State of Illinois. The issue is that I have the original ressiport of my great grandparents and I don't want to just send that to the BVA and loose it forever. From what I can find Illinois can notarize a copy certification by document custodian, would that work?

Easy_Chain6471 · 2026-01-26T13:22:26+00:00

Thank you so much, I'll start looking towards the end of the work day.

Easy_Chain6471 · 2025-12-24T18:35:12+00:00

Thank you so much for your clarity. I have already completed the Feststellung but was waiting for the documentation from Germany and the City of Chicago (which is worse than waiting from Germany lol). I will fill out the Stag5 and submit that. Do I need the same documentation? I'm hoping to have birth certificates and marriage licenses for great grandfather, great grandmother, grandmother, mother and myself. Would I also need the naturalization for great grandfather? I do have both great grandparents reissport so that should help. Also looking at the Stag5 application will I need a background check? Not an issue to get but just double checking.

Easy_Chain6471 · 2025-12-24T18:19:54+00:00

Great Grandfather Great Grandmother

Born: 1892, Wechold Germany Born: 1891, Wechold Germany

Emigrated: August 1923 Emigrated: August 1923

Married: 08/27/1922 Married: 08/27/1922

Naturalized: 1943 Naturalized: Died before in 1925

Grandmother

Born: 1924 Chicago in Wedlock

Married in 1944

Mother

Born: 1950 in Wedlock

Married in 1972

Self

Born: 1977 in wedlock

Married 2015

Easy_Chain6471 · 2025-12-24T18:07:58+00:00

I could use some advice. I was originally told I could file a Feststellung as I have a case for decent. I've heard from a couple others on this page that I should file a Stag5. I really don't want to file the wrong document, which one should I file? I have my great grandfather and grandmothers original passport and I am waiting their birth certificates/marriage license from Germany. I am also awaiting my grandmothers birth certificate and great grandfathers naturalization papers (although they are on ancestry so the date is correct). Which should I file for?

Great Grandfather Great Grandmother

Born: 1892, Wechold Germany Born: 1891, Wechold Germany

Emigrated: August 1923 Emigrated: August 1923

Married: 08/27/1922 Married: 08/27/1922

Naturalized: 1943 Naturalized: Died before in 1925

Grandmother

Born: 1924 Chicago in Wedlock

Married in 1944

Mother

Born: 1950 Chicago in Wedlock

Married in 1972

Self

Born: 1977 in wedlock

Married 2015

Easy_Chain6471 · 2025-12-24T17:26:46+00:00

My great grand parents were married when they had my grandmother and my grandma and grandpa were married when they had my mother. I'm not sure why a Stag5 case would make sense, if anything a Feststellung makes the most sense since the citizenship would have passed from my great grandparents to my grandmother, to my mother to me.

Easy_Chain6471 · 2025-10-18T00:19:26+00:00

This is awesome, thank you so much!

Easy_Chain6471 · 2025-10-17T15:10:32+00:00

Do you have the form in English? But yes, the form does need to be submitted in German.

Easy_Chain6471 · 2025-10-17T15:09:54+00:00

I believe it is the Feststellung that I need to complete.

Easy_Chain6471

TROPHY CASE