Registration of births

4. Re-registering a birth

You may want to re-register a birth to:

1. Show that you're now married or in a civil partnership

If as parents you got married or formed a civil partnership with one another after the child’s birth, a re-registration of the birth is required by law. This is so that the current legal status of the child can be accurately recorded. The child's surname can also be changed as part of this process.

A form is available from the Registration Service. The completed form must be signed by both parents. Either parent can attend the Register Office with the completed form and a copy of the marriage or civil partnership certificate.

You can buy certified copies of the re-registered birth from the Registrar.

2. Add the father's details

If as parents you were not married or in a civil partnership with each other at the time of the child’s birth and the father did not attend with the mother to register the baby, you can re-register the birth in the future. You may want to include the father's details and to change the surname of the child.

A form is available from the Registration Service. The form must be completed by both parents. Both parents should attend the Register Office together to re-register the birth.

It's also possible for either parent:

• to make a statutory declaration before a solicitor, or other person who can legally witness an oath, acknowledging parentage of the child
• to seek a Court Order naming the father

In all these cases the birth will be re-registered. You can buy certified copies of the re-registered birth from the Registrar.