Toggle mobile menu visibility

Re-register a birth

There are two types of birth re-registration:

1. Re-register a birth following the marriage or civil partnership of natural parents

When the natural parents of a child marry or form a civil partnership, there is a legal requirement to re-register the birth. It is a requirement to re-register the birth even if the child's surname is to remain the same.

Same-sex female couples

Contact us for application forms and more information

Mixed sex couples

Before you can re-register you will need to complete a form LA1 for each child.

Download the LA1 form

Full instructions on how to complete the Form LA1 can be found in Part A of the form.

  • If your child was born in Norfolk, send or drop your completed form/s into either the Norwich/King's Lynn Offices (Monday to Friday) or Great Yarmouth Office (Tuesday to Thursday) with your marriage or civil partnership certificate* and your child's full birth certificate/s*
  • Once we have your form/s and certificates* we will make sure everything is in order and contact you to arrange a convenient appointment, at any registration office in Norfolk, for one or both of you to attend. Only one parent need attend
  • If your child was born outside Norfolk you can take or send the forms and certificates to the register office in the district where the child was born or alternatively you can re-register by making a declaration at any register office in England or Wales). Contact us if you need any more information.

*Please note all certificates must be either:

2. Re-register a birth to add natural father's details.

Before you can re-register you will need to complete a Form 185 for each child.

Download the Form 185 from GOV.UK (opens new window)

Full instructions on how to complete the Form 185 can be found in Part A of the form.

  • If your child was born in Norfolk, send or drop your completed form/s into either the NorwichGreat Yarmouth or King's Lynn Offices with your child's full birth certificate/s*
  • Once we have your form/s and certificate/s* we will make sure everything is in order and contact you to arrange a convenient appointment, at any registration office in Norfolk for you both to attend.
  • If one parent is unable to attend they can complete a statutory declaration of parentage form available from GOV.UK (opens new window). This should be provided to us at the same time as the 185-re-registration form/s and birth certificate/s*.
  • If your child was born outside Norfolk, you can take or send the form/s and certificate/s* to the register office in the district where the child was born. Alternatively, you can re-register by making a declaration at any register office in England or Wales. Contact us if you need any more information

*Please note all certificates must be either:

Form 185 asks that you send us certified photocopies only, but for your ease we do accept original certificates.

Essential information for both types of re-registration:

  • If your child is over 16 and you intend to alter their surname, they will need to give their written consent to a change to their surname
  • Both parents must sign and date the form
  • There is no charge for the re-registration
  • New certificates which supersede the original birth certificate will cost £11 on the day of the re-registration
  • At your re-registration appointment please bring any original birth certificates not already sent to us with your re-registration form/s

To remove the wrong father's details

Contact us for more information