Make changes to a birth certificate

Adding details of the natural father if you aren't married

If the natural father's details weren't included in the original record, you need to re-register the birth if you want to add them later. You can change the surname of the child at the same time if you wish to do so.

When you add the natural father's details to the register you'll have joint parental responsibility for the child.

Fees

There's no charge to re-register a birth to add the natural father's details, but you'll need to buy a new birth certificate. See our registration charges for the costs.

What you'll need

To add the details of the natural father if you aren't married, you'll need to provide:

• a completed GRO 185 form signed by both parents

• the child's original birth certificate

Both parents will then need to attend the appointment to re-register the birth.

If both parents can't attend the appointment

If both parents can't attend the register office, the parent who can't attend also needs to:

• complete a statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage (Form 16)

• make a declaration before a solicitor or other person legally able to witness an oath, acknowledging parentage of the child

Court orders to name the father

Either parent can seek a court order to name the father. In these cases you'll need to contact the General Register Office.

If the mother and natural father have married since the birth

If you're the child's natural parents and have got married after the birth of your child, you must re-register the birth. This is done to accurately record the legal status of the child. You can add the natural father's name at the same time, if it wasn't recorded at the time of registration.

Fees

There's no charge to re-register a birth if the mother and natural father have married since the birth, but you'll need to buy a new birth certificate. See our registration charges for the costs.

What you'll need

To re-register a birth following the marriage of the mother and natural father, you'll need to provide:

• a completed LA1 form, signed by both parents

• the child's original birth certificate

• your marriage certificate

One or both parents will then need to attend the appointment to re-register the birth.

If you were married outside of the UK

If you were married outside of the UK, you'll need to apply to the General Register Office for permission to re-register the child before you arrange an appointment with us.

If the mother and a second female parent have married or entered into a civil partnership after the birth

If you've got married or formed a civil partnership with the child's second female parent after the child was born, you should re-register the birth. You need to contact the General Register Office for the relevant forms to do this.

When the General Register Office has received your application, they'll contact us when the re-registration has been authorised. You'll then be able to make an appointment with us for the re-registration to be carried out.

Changing the forename of the child

You can change the forename(s) of your child within 12 months of the date of the registration of the birth. The new name will be recorded in space 17 of the birth entry (at the bottom of the birth certificate). The original name of the child (in space 2) will remain, and can be seen in the register and on the birth certificate.

Fees

See our registration charges for the cost to record a new forename, and for copies of the new birth certificate.

What you'll need

To change the forename(s) of your child you'll need to provide:

• a completed Form 14 if the child hasn't been baptised

• a completed Form 13 if the child has been baptised in the Christian faith within 12 months of the birth registration; the form being completed by the minister of the church in which the child was baptised

Removing the wrong father's details

To remove the name of a child's father from a birth registration you need a DNA test from an approved tester, a court order, or some other form of evidence that says that the man named isn't the natural father.

You need to apply to the General Register Office to remove the wrong father's details, and there will be a fee for this. Read the GOV.UK guidance about how to apply for a correction to remove the wrong father's details from a birth certificate.

To apply to remove the wrong father's details you need to fill in the application form to remove the wrong father's details from a birth registration.

If you made a mistake when the birth was registered

If you realise that you made a mistake with any information when you registered the birth of your child, you can apply to correct the register.

We're able to make simple corrections such as:

• mother's place of birth

• occupation of either parent

• spelling errors

If you want to correct the name of a child or parent, we'll need to send your application to the General Register Office.

You can't apply for a correction to show new information or if your circumstances have changed (eg if you've remarried and changed your name).

Fees

You'll need to pay a fee for the correction and to buy new copies of the birth certificate. See our registration charges for the costs.

Any new full birth certificates will show the correction and the date in the margin.

What you'll need

To apply to correct the register, fill in an application for correction and contact us to make an appointment.