She already covered that one, Kathryn.
Hell, I had to prove my father was really dead when I applied for mine, and I was 28 at the time.
Well, I went back and reread it and by jove you're right - there was no father listed on the birth certificates so..what's the problem?
As for having to prove your father is dead - all I know is this: Since the rise of international terrorism, verifying the IDs of all of us, especially as we travel, has become much more important - for everyone. For instance, I work in a bank, and we have to have the following to open an acct:
1. State issued photo ID - not expired - which includes a birthdate and expiration date
2. Social security number (which we verify)
3. A PHYSICAL address - not simply a PO box
You would be amazed at how many people balk at providing one or more of the above. Just yesterday I had a woman CALL ME at the bank, and then REFUSE to give me her SS number (I was trying to verify her ID over the phone). WHAT THE HECK?
When setting up an estate account, we have to have all sorts of proof of death and the right of the person in front of us to handle the deceased's accounts.
Unfortunately, ID theft is a huge and growing problem in our global society. Get used to more paperwork to prove who you are and why you're doing whatever it is you want to do.