There are two types of re-registration for a child born in England or Wales:
- Following the natural parents' marriage to show the child as a child of marriage. This type of re-registration is a legal requirement.
- To add the natural father's details where the existing record does not show any father and the child's natural parents have not married each other since the date of the child's birth.
If you wish to change the child's surname, it can be changed to the same as the mother, the natural father or any combination of the two as long as both parents agree to the change.
Where the child is 16 years old or over, their written consent will be required.
You cannot change a child's forenames at re-registration.
There is no charge for the re-registration of a birth. However, new birth certificates can be purchased on the day of re-registration for a cost of £11 for each certificate.
What to bring
For re-registration following the natural parents' marriage, you should bring the following:
- A completed form LA1 (opens in a new tab), signed by both parents, for each child to be re-registered.
- Your original marriage certificate. If you were not married in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, we would need to refer your application to the General Register Office for authorisation before re-registration.
- One parent is required to attend the registry office for the re-registration.
Adding the natural father's details
This type of re-registration gives the natural father parental responsibility for the child. Only a court can remove this responsibility. You may seek legal advice on this before your application.
You must bring a completed form GRO 185, signed by both parents, for each child to be re-registered.
Both parents are required to attend the registry office for the re-registration. If there is a reason why both parents cannot attend, please get in touch with us to discuss your situation.
Your appointment
To book a re-registration appointment at any of our registration offices in Lincolnshire, please book online and select re-registering a birth when prompted.