changing birth certificate

[frankie50]

i have recently been told that i have a 2 year old daughter. I am doing a D.N.A test to prove she is mine but she has another man listed on the birth certificate as the childs dad. How can i remove his name and replace it with the correct one?

[lou 26]

Hope this link can give you the answer you are looking for. From what i can see you can reregister the birth adding a fathers name but only if there wasnt a name on there before. unmarried fathers rights stink im afraid but i hope you manage to resolve this. It may be worth giving the citizens advice bureau a call or even the registry office, im sure they can advise you fully

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/births/canichangethebirthrecordatalaterdate/birth3e.asp

Good Luck x

[netibiza]

Not sure, but wouldn't you have to adopt your own child to get a birth certificate with your name on it?

[Marsh]

A different page on the site Lou 26 gave you is http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/births/canichangethebirthrecordatalaterdate/birth3a.asp "How do I correct an error?"

The site also says that if your name is on the certificate you acquire responsibilities - it doesn't say anything about rights or access. Lou's suggestion of the CAB is a good one.

[Buenchico]

If the child's mother is prepared to attend the register office with you, you can cut down on the paperwork. Otherwise, you need to get hold of one of the following:
a) a declaration signed by the child's mother, stating that you are the natural father of the child ; or
b) a parental responsibility agreement signed by yourself and the child's mother. (For more information, see a solicitor or phone Parentline Plus on 0808 800 2222) ; or
c) a court order stating that you are the natural father. (Obviously, you'll need a solicitor's help for this).

Then, if the child's mother will not be attending the register office with you, download 'Form 16' here:
Print it out, complete it and take it to a solicitor (or similarly legally qualified person) in order that it can be properly witnessed.

After you've got all that sorted out, download form GRO185 here:
http://www.gro.gov.uk/Images/gro185_tcm69-2680.pdf
Print it out, complete it and take it, with all supporting documentation, to your local register office. You can find the address by using the search faclity here:
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

The register office will initiate the process necessary for the change to be made to your daughter's birth certificate. They'll then forward the paperwork to the General Register Office for the changes to be made.

NB: I've taken care to provide accurate information but, before proceeding further, I think that you should first visit your local register office. If you then receive confirmation that the change you require is possible, I strongly advise seeking the services of a solicitor.

Chris

[Buenchico]

Oops!

I omitted the link for Form 16:
http://www.gro.gov.uk/Images/Form%2016_tcm69-18028.pdf

Sorry!

Chris

[dotjhawkes]

Excellent posts and advice, but what about the guy who's name is already on the ceretificate, he either a) was married to the mother or b) attended the register office and signed his name as the father. How is he going to feel? Does he know?

[lion heart]

I had to change my own birth certificate after finding out it did have my real dads name on it but not the man as i had known as my dad through my life i went to the registery office and had to pay for it but if it is your child then you will want her to know this even if you loose contact for any reason, I would contact them and ask there advice.

[frankie50]

Thanks for the answers. As for the "other dad" ,he also wants to know and he has always thought that the baby was mine. He said that she should know her real dad, and if it isn't him then he still just wants to be involved. I don't wanna take anything away from anyone, i just want her to know me and who i am to her, she has a whole other family she is missing out on.