Re-register a birth

Find out when you must re-register a birth and how to do this.

A child's birth must be re-registered if the biological parents have married each other since the birth of their child, under the Legitimacy Act 1976.

You can also re-register a child's birth to add the biological father's details to the original registration.

How to re-register

If you want to re-register your child's birth, you'll need:

• a completed re-registration form
• a marriage certificate, if the biological parents have married each other, or
• a re-registration form to add the father's details

You can get a re-registration form at your local register office or download a form from GOV.UK.

Both parents need to fill in and sign the re-registration form, then contact the Register Office in England or Wales to make a an appointment.