188体育

You can apply for a birth registration correction when the information is wrong - for example if a mistake was made when recording a parent鈥檚 occupation.

You cannot apply for a correction to show new information if circumstances change after you鈥檝e registered your child鈥檚 birth, for example if you change your name after getting married again.

However, you can apply to re-register the birth if the natural parents get married at a later date.

Removing the wrong father鈥檚 details

You can apply to change who the recorded father is if you can prove that the man named on the certificate is not the natural father of the child. Examples of proof include:

• a DNA test record from an approved tester
• a court order
• evidence that confirms the name of the true biological father
• other evidence that confirms the recorded father could not have been the child鈥檚 natural father

What happens if you change gender

If you get your gender change legally recognised, you鈥檒l be able to order a new birth certificate with your new gender on it.

What the correction looks like

If your application is approved, a correction is made in the register in the office for the area where your child was born.

The original information will always be shown in the register. After the correction has been authorised, a note will be added to the margin of the register. This will explain what the correct information is and when the correction was made.

All full birth certificates that are issued after the correction will include the note in the margin.

Short birth certificates only include the child鈥檚 details and will not have a note in the margin - they just show any correct new details.

The following people can apply for a correction:

• the mother
• the father (if his details are on the certificate)

The child named on the certificate may be able to apply for a correction if their parents are not available.

Removing the wrong father鈥檚 details

It is not always necessary for the named father to take part in the correction process. The General Register Office (GRO) can correct the entry if 2 of the following people apply to have it changed:

• the mother
• the natural father
• the man named on the birth certificate as the father

At least one of these must sign the application form.

You need to provide contact addresses for the mother, the man named as the father on the certificate and the true biological father (if he took part in a DNA test).

It costs 拢83 or 拢99 to apply to correct a mistake in a birth registration.

Contact the register office where your child鈥檚 birth was registered to find out how to send your application, the cost and how to pay.

Fill in the relevant application form and send it to the register office:

• correct details on a birth registration
• remove incorrect father鈥檚 details from a birth registration

Proving the registration is wrong

You鈥檒l need to show that the information given at the time of the registration was wrong. You must send in documents with your application that show what the correct information should have been. These documents should be valid or dated around the time your child was born.

Documents you can send in include a:

• passport
• photocard driving licence
• bank, building society or credit card statement
• letter from a hospital or doctor
• letter from a government department

All certified copies sent with the application will be destroyed if you do not ask for them to be returned.

Proof the wrong father is on the certificate

You鈥檒l need to prove that the man named on the certificate is not the natural father of the child. Examples of proof include:

• a DNA test record from an approved tester
• a court order
• evidence that confirms the name of the true biological father
• other evidence that confirms the recorded father could not have been the child鈥檚 natural father

Sending in certified documents

You should only send in documents that have been certified as true copies of the original.

Statutory declaration

If you鈥檙e applying to correct a serious mistake (such as the name of a person), the General Register Office (GRO) may ask you to make a 鈥榮tatutory declaration鈥� about the correction and send it to them. This means you have to make a legal statement in front of someone like a judge or solicitor that they must sign (sometimes called 鈥榓ttesting an oath鈥�).

How long applications take聽

There is no set time for how long applications will take. It can take up to 25 days for you to get a reply.

If the correction is approved

The register office or GRO will tell you when they鈥檝e approved the correction.

You can then buy a full birth certificate which will show the original information and a note of the corrected details.

Advice

If you want further advice on applying to make a correction, contact the register office or the General Register Office (GRO).