Change a birth certificate

Change a child's first name
Add or amend a child's name after baptism
Parents who were unmarried at the child’s birth
Parents who have married since the child’s birth
Correct a mistake in the registration of birth
Further information

A child’s birth certificate can sometimes be changed in specific circumstances in the following ways:

• Change a child’s first name
• Change a child’s surname
• Correct a mistake in the registration of birth.

Change a child’s first name

If you decide to change your child's first name or names, you can do so within 12 months of the date of the registration of the birth.

To change a child’s first name, the parents need to complete a form at the Register Office. This can be carried out at any time after the birth as long as it can be proved that the child’s name has been changed within 12 months after the registration of birth.

Once the form has been completed the amended name or names will be inserted into space 17 in the birth register. Certified copies of the amended registration of birth can then be purchased. The full copy of the birth certificate will contain both the original name and the new name of the child. The short version of the birth certificate will only record the child's amended forename or forenames.

Add or amend a child's name after baptism

If the child has been baptised as a Christian within 12 months after the registration of birth, you can obtain a form from the Register Office to take to the minister of the church in which the child was baptised.

Once this form has been completed, it needs to be returned to the Register Office and the amended names inserted into space 17 of the original birth register. This process can be carried out at any time after the birth as long as the baptism took place within 12 months of the registration of birth. You can then purchase certified copies of the amended registration of birth.

The full copy of the birth certificate will contain both the original name and the new name from the baptism. The short version of the birth certificate will only record the child's amended forename from the baptism.

Parents who were unmarried at the child’s birth

If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the child’s birth and the father’s details are not recorded in the register, then it is possible to re-register the birth at any time in the future to include the father's details in the child’s birth entry and if appropriate to change the surname of the child. A form is available from the Register office that needs to be completed by both parents.

The easiest way for the birth to be re-registered is for both parents to attend the Register office together. However, it is possible for either parent to make a statutory declaration acknowledging parentage of the child, for example before a solicitor or another person able to legally witness an oath. It is also possible for either parent to seek a court order to name the father. In any of these cases, the birth will be re-registered and certified copies of the re-registered birth certificate can be purchased from the registrar.

However, if the parents were not married to each other at the time of the birth and it was decided to give the child the father's surname, whether or not he attended with the mother, it is not possible to change the surname in the birth register back to that of the mother. The only alternative will be to consult a solicitor and make a statutory declaration or deed poll changing the surname of the child. This will not change the original registration of birth. The statutory declaration or deed poll document should be attached to the birth certificate and this will provide evidence that the child is being brought up with a surname which is different to the one recorded in the registration of birth.

Parents who have married since the child’s birth

If the parents have married each other since the birth was registered, the birth should be re-registered to accurately record the current legal status of the child. A form is available from the Register office that must be signed by both parents. Either parent can then attend the Register office (by appointment only) with the completed form and a copy of the marriage certificate. The birth will then be re-registered and the child's surname can be changed as part of this process. Certified copies of the re-registered birth certificate can be purchased from the registrar.

Correct a mistake in the registration of birth

Any error in a birth register entry must be reported to the appropriate registrar as soon as it is noticed. The person who registered the birth will be required to make a statement giving details of the error and confirming the correct information. The correction may have to be referred to the registrar general. Further documentary evidence may be required.

Further information

For further information, please contact us using the below details:

Tower Hamlets Register Office
Bromley Public Hall
Bow Road
London
E3 3AA

Tel: 020 7364 7882
Fax: 020 7364 7885
E-mail: register.office@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Open: Monday to Friday, 9.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4pm, except Wednesdays when the office is closed 11.30am to 2pm.

Pid No: 320