Find out when you must re-register a birth, how to book an appointment, and what identification to bring.
A child's birth must be re-registered if the biological parents have married each other since the birth of the 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
- to book an appointment to re-register a birth
The re-registration form will either be one of these forms:
- re-registration form if the biological parents are now married to each other or
- application to re-register a child's birth and add the father's details
Both parents need to fill in and sign the re-registration form then come to a register office in England or Wales in person to make a re-registration.
Book an appointment
To book an appointment to re-register a birth in the Bristol Registration District contact the office on 0117 922 2800.
Cost to re-register a birth
There is no cost to re-register a birth but if you want to buy any new certificate on the day they cost £12.50 each.
Attend a Register Office
Re-register a birth after the biological parents have married
Only one parent needs to come to the Register Office, as long as both parents have filled in and signed the form and they present a certified copy of their marriage certificate.
Re-register a birth to add the biological father's details
Where the parents are not married to each other, both parents should come to a register office in person as this will make re-registration easier.
If only one parent can come to the Register Office then they'll need to bring proof. You must complete a statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage form.
This declaration must be made by one parent only before one of the following:
- justice of the peace
- magistrate
- commissioner for oaths
- practising solicitor
- notary public
- licensed conveyancer
- authorised advocate
- authorised litigator
The request for a re-registration could be referred to the Registrar General for authorisation if:
- the marriage took place outside of England or Wales
- a statutory declaration is presented in the absence of a parent
- a court order is presented
What to bring to the appointment
Identification documents
You must bring proof of ID to your appointment.
Visit Register a birth: Proving your identity - GOV.UK for the list of acceptable ID documents to register or re-register a birth.
This includes a new list of ID for appointments on and after 9 November 2026.
If attending with your partner
If you're attending with your partner and you're not married or in a civil partnership, then both of you will need to bring documentation to prove your identity.
If you don't have suitable ID
If you don't bring acceptable ID we may not be able to complete the registration, and you may need to book another appointment.