Re-registering means creating a new record in the birth register.
There are two situations that may result in you asking for your child's birth to be re-registered:
- You have married the biological parent of your child since the birth. If this is the case (even if the natural father's details were originally entered in the birth register), you are legally required to re-register the birth. The new entry will show the new status of both you and your child.
- The child's biological parents were not married to each other at the time of birth and no father's details were recorded in the first registration. They have not subsequently married each other but they now wish to add his information.
To re-register a birth after marriage you should apply using Form-LA1.
To re-register a birth to include the natural father's details you should apply using Form-GRO 185.
The forms can be downloaded from this page. Please click on the relevant link under "related documents" to the right of this text. They are also available from any Register Office in England or Wales.
Once completed the form should be returned to the Register Office. If it is difficult to attend the Register Office in the district where the birth occurred, it is possible to re-register by declaration at any other Register Office in England or Wales. Most re-registrations can be authorised in the Register Office. Some applications have to be referred to the Registrar General for consideration. For further details please contact us on 01225 477234.