Opinion ID: 175889
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Cape Verde

Text: Petitioner asserts, and the government does not refute, that Tavares was not legitimated by his father under Cape Verde law. The BIA does not discuss the question of whether Cape Verde law legitimates Tavares. Since Cape Verde was a province of Portugal and under Portuguese law when Tavares was born, the parties appear to agree that Portguese Civil Code Article 119 (“Code”) applies in this case. The Code states that a marriage between two parents legitimates children born prior to the marriage if the children are recognized (1) by the father and mother “on registering the marriage;” (2) “at the time of their births were recorded;” (3) in a will or public document; or (4) via judicial action and judgment. Tavares’ parents’ marriage had not been recognized under Cape Verde law as of 1990. Further, the mechanisms for recognition of a child suggest a formal process, and there is no evidence of formal recognition in this case. There is no indication that Manuel Tavares formally recognized Tavares when Tavares’ birth was recorded or in any will or other public document. Nor was there a judicial action or judgment. Therefore, Tavares was not legitimated under the laws of Cape Verde.