In some cases, you must register a birth again, which makes a new record in the birth register.
You must re-register a birth if:
- you marry or enter a civil partnership with your child’s natural parent, even if both parents were named in the original registration. This type of re-registration is a legal requirement. You can change the child’s surname on re-registration
- the father's details were not included originally and you now wish to add them
You can change the child’s surname on re-registration.
Where the child is 16 years old or over, their written consent will be required.
You cannot change a child’s forename at re-registration. You can find information on changing a child's forename here.
Following the natural parents’ marriage
You should bring the following:
- child’s full birth certificate
- completed form LA1, signed by both parents
- original marriage certificate. Your application will be referred to the General Register Office if you married outside of the UK
- one parent must attend the registry office
Add the birth father’s details
You should bring the following:
- child’s full birth certificate
- completed form GRO 185, signed by both parents
- both parents attend
- one parent attends with a statutory declaration completed by the other parent
- one parent attends with an additional document listed in Section 6 – Court Involvement on the form (one parent to sign form GRO 185)
Costs
There is no charge for the re-registration of a birth.
If you need a copy of the new birth certificate following re-registration, you can buy this for £12.50 from the district where your child was born.
Book an appointment
You must book an appointment to re-register a birth.
This is only available for births that happened in England or Wales.
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.