You can apply to re-register your child’s birth if either
- natural father’s details were not included in the original registration, and you now want to add them so he gains joint parental rights and responsibilities
- the child’s natural parents have married or formed a civil partnership since the date of the child’s birth
The procedure is different depending on which situation applies to you.
Re-register a child’s birth and add the father's details
If you need to add the natural father’s details where the natural parents have not married or formed a civil partnership print and complete the GRO185 form.
All information must be checked carefully before returning the form. Return the form by email: registrar@york.gov.uk or post to York Register Office, 56 Bootham, York, YO30 7DA.
The form and the original registration will be checked by a registrar, and we'll contact you to make an appointment.
Both parents must attend the appointment and bring the original completed GRO185 form which has been signed by both parents along with the original birth certificates issued at the time of registration.
Re-register a birth following marriage or civil partnership of natural parents
If you and your partner are the child’s natural parents and have married each other or formed a civil partnership since your baby's birth you should re-register to show your son or daughter as a child of your marriage or civil partnership, then you need to print and complete the LA1 form.
All information must be checked carefully before returning the form. Return the form by email: registrar@york.gov.uk or post to York Register Office, 56 Bootham, York, YO30 7DA.
The form and the original registration will be checked by a registrar, and we'll contact you to make an appointment.
Only one parent needs to attend the appointment and bring the original completed LA1 form which has been signed by both parents along with the original birth certificates issued at the time of registration.
If your marriage takes place outside of the UK
If your marriage took place outside the UK then your application will need to be referred to the General Register Office (GRO), and the appointment cannot go ahead without the approval of the GRO. The process can take approximately 6 to 8 weeks from start to finish. The GRO will require us to say we have seen the original marriage or civil partnership certificate (not a photocopy or scanned copy). If the certificate is not in English, they will also require a full third-party translation.
Re-register a birth following a same-sex female marriage or civil partnership
If a same-sex female couple has married or formed a civil partnership after their child’s birth they can apply to re-register as long as second female parent was named on the original registration. They have to follow a slightly different procedure. If this applies to you, email: registrar@york.gov.uk for advice.
Cost of re-registration
It's free to re-register a birth. However, if you wish to purchase a copy of the new birth certificate, you'll need to pay the statutory fee (currently £12.50 for our non-priority service). We'll provide you with details of how you can order a new certificate once the re-registration has taken place.
Location of re-registration appointments
All re-registration appointments take place at York Register Office, 56 Bootham, York, YO30 7DA.