Nebraska Father Battles for Daughter’s Identity Amid Name Dispute

VALLEY, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska father is urgently seeking to secure a Social Security number and a valid birth certificate for his daughter, Caroline, whose name is erroneously registered as “Unakite Thirteen Hotel” in state records. Jason Kilburn, living just outside Omaha, claims this bureaucratic mix-up has left his daughter without necessary services, from health insurance to childcare.

“It’s like she’s a ghost,” Kilburn said in a phone interview. “It’s been very, very taxing.” Caroline, born in November 2022 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, was placed in foster care shortly after birth due to her mother’s alleged drug use and neglect. Kilburn learned about her birth only after taking a DNA test confirming his paternity.

After gaining custody of Caroline from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Kilburn discovered discrepancies in her birth documentation. Instead of a formal birth certificate, Caroline had received only a certificate of live birth, an unofficial document required to initiate the legal birth certificate process. This certificate surprisingly listed the unusual name, Unakite Thirteen Hotel.

“I was told it was a computer-generated name,” Kilburn recounted. He has sought clarity from CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs, the Iowa hospital that issued the document, but faced challenges navigating the procedural complexities involved.

Joshua Livingston, Kilburn’s attorney at the Koenig | Dunne law firm, described the situation as “a circuitous, bureaucratic loop.” The Nebraska DHHS stated that they are working with Kilburn’s lawyer to resolve the matter but declined to provide additional details, citing confidentiality laws.

In a recent email to NBC News, the Social Security Administration confirmed they are investigating the case and will contact Kilburn directly. However, as of Monday evening, Kilburn reported he had not yet received any communication from the agency.

The complications escalated in March 2023, when the Nebraska DHHS petitioned a juvenile court for permission to use the erroneous name to secure a birth certificate. A court approved the motion, resulting in a birth certificate listing “Unakite Hotel” that was labeled “for government use only.” Unfortunately, the DHHS failed to proceed with obtaining Caroline a Social Security number thereafter, leading Livingston to file a motion in December 2024, which was denied.

Livinston indicated that he plans to file another motion to amend the birth certificate so it includes Kilburn’s name, potentially aiding in obtaining the Social Security number. “This child fell between the cracks,” he said, expressing concern for Caroline’s situation.

The legal confusion has left Kilburn unable to access essential services for Caroline. Currently unemployed due to health issues, he stated he was denied Medicaid and other forms of assistance without her Social Security number. A recent visit to a pediatrician cost him about $700, making him hesitant to seek additional medical care.

“It really sucks to sit here and watch her suffer when there’s health care out there that I can’t get because of this,” Kilburn lamented. He also noted the impact on Caroline’s access to day care and early intervention services, adding, “This is stuff she’s entitled to as any American is.”

Despite the challenges, Kilburn described Caroline as a joyful child who shows no apparent signs of trauma. “She’s a joy to be around,” he said, optimistic that once her identity issues are resolved, she will officially be known as Caroline Elizabeth Kilburn.