Re-registering a baby's Birth
There are two main situation in which the child's parents may request the birth to be re-registered.
To show that the parents are now married
If the natural parents have married each other since the birth was registered, the birth should be re-registered to accurately record the current legal status of the child. A form can be obtained from registration Services using our contact details page which needs to be signed by both parents. Either parent can then attend the register office with the completed form and a copy of the marriage certificate. The birth can then be re-registered and the child's surname can be changed as part of this process. Copies of the re-registered birth certificate can then be purchased from the registrar.
Adding the father's details to the birth record
If the child's natural parents were not married at the time of the birth and the father did not attend with the mother to register the birth of the baby, the birth record can be amended at any time to include the father's details and to change the surname of the child. A form can be obtained from Registration Services using our contact details page.
The easiest way for a birth to be re-registered is for both parents to attend at a register office together. It is possible however for either parent to make a statutory declaration before a solicitor or other person able to legally witness an oath to acknowledge parentage of the child. It is also possible for either parent to obtain a court order naming the father. In any of these situations, the birth will be registered again and copies of the re-registered certificate can be purchased from the registrar.
If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the birth and it was decided to give the child the father's name (whether or not he attended the initial registration with the mother)it is not always possible to change the child's surname back to that of the mother. The only alternative would be to speak to a solicitor to make a statutory declaration or deed poll changing the name of the child. This would not change the entry on the original birth register. The statutory declaration or deed poll should however be attached to the birth certificate to show that the child has been brought up with a surname different to that shown on the original birth record.
Changing the first name of a child
It is sometimes possible to change the first name (or names) of your child. If you decide to change the name within 12 months of the date of registration then you are able to make the changes to the original birth registration.
If the child has been baptised into the Christian faith within 12 months of the registration then you can obtain a form from registration Services using our contact details which needs to be completed by the minister of the church in which the child was baptised. Once this form has been completed it needs to be returned to Registration Services and the amended names can then be inserted into space 17 on the original birth register. This can be done at any time afterwards as long as the baptism took place within 12 months of the original birth registration. Amended copies of the birth record can then be purchased from the registrar. The full version of the birth certificate will show both the original name and the new name. the short version of the certificate will only show the new name.
If the child has not been baptised then the parents can complete a Certificate of Naming form at any of the register offices. Again, this can take place at any time after the initial birth registration providing that it can be proved that the name change took place within 12 months of the initial registration. This could be accomplished by providing evidence in the form of a clinic card, NHS medical card or a bank book. The amended names will be inserted into space 17 on the original birth register. This can be done at any time afterwards as long as the baptism took place within 12 months of the original birth registration. Amended copies of the birth record can then be purchased from the registrar. The full version of the birth certificate will show both the original name and the new name. the short version of the certificate will only show the new name.
It should be noted that there is no charge for re-registering a baby's birth.
Correcting a mistake in the naming of a child at the time of registration
If there is a mistake in the original birth registration then it will be necessary for the person who registered the birth to prove that an error exists in the original entry.
The registration is a historical record that records details as they were on the date that registration took place. The information that you will need to provide will depend upon how soon after the birth was registered the mistake was discovered.
If the mistake is discovered within a short period of time, for example after a couple of weeks then you should write a letter identifying the error and how it came to be made. This should initially be sent to Registration Services, using our contact details, who will then pass the information on to the registrar general's Office who authorise all corrections made to register entries.
If there has been a longer gap between registration and realising that a mistake has been made, in addition to writing you will need to provide evidence that you are bringing up the child with a name different to that recorded in the registration document. This could be in the form of a clinic or NHS medical card or a bank book. This evidence will be submitted to the registrar general's Office along with your letter.
Making an appointment to re-register a birth
Re-registering the birth of a child needs to be done in person. To make an appointment with a registrar please contact Registration Services using our contact details page. Alternatively, visit one of our register offices to make an appointment. Details of register office locations can be found by using the link provided.
Last Modified:
27/06/2007 13:47:28
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