How do I alter the birth certificate to show that the natural parents have married each other since the birth?
Your child’s birth needs to be ‘
re-registered’ if the natural parents have married each other since the birth (for example, you want to add the natural father to the record because mother has married him or both parents named in the original record have married).
In order to re-register the birth, you will need to fill in a special form which both parents need to sign and date, then
one or both parents should
attend the register office where the child was originally registered. You should contact the Register Office, using the details on the right, who will send you a form and arrange an appointment for you.
You will also need to take your marriage certificate (an original and not a photocopy).
Once completed, your paperwork needs to be taken to your local register office, and then in some cases it may need to be sent on to the General Register Office (GRO) in Southport for processing (for example, if you married overseas).
Re-registration by declaration If you no longer live in the district where the birth took place, you can ‘re-register by declaration' by attending any register office in England or Wales. The same rules above apply as to who can attend and what documents you need to bring with you. The forms will be forwarded to the office where the birth was originally registered. Any marriage certificates will be photocopied and returned to you. If you require copies of the new certificate, these can be paid for in advance by cheque or postal order at the time of giving your declaration.
To re-register a child born in Blackpool or to attend Blackpool Register Office to attest a declaration to another district, please contact us using the methods on the right.
Use this DirectGov link to
Search for your local Register Office.
The amended birth certificateA completely new birth entry is created showing that the parents of the child are now married to each other. On the Full birth certificate (showing parentage), the mother's former surname (her maiden name) or her current surname (if she has not changed her surname to that of her husband's) will appear in Space 9(a). The parents' new address (if different from the original entry) and changes of occupation can also be recorded.
Short versions of the birth certificate show the child's forenames and new surname (if a change has taken place), the child's sex, date and place of birth and district of birth.
There is no charge for re-registering your child, but there is a fee to purchase the new Short or Full birth certificates. For our up-to-date certificate fees, click on Register Office Fees. You will be charged for a Certified Copy Certificate at time of registration.
Please Note: The fee for a birth certificate rises as soon as your appointment is over.