Certificate errors and changes

It your responsibility to check that the details in a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership registration are correct at the time of the registration.

Changes to a birth certificate

The information on a birth certificate can be changed under the following circumstances:

  • Add a father’s name to a birth certificate
  • Update the parents details following their marriage/civil partnership
  • Add or change a forename
  • Remove the wrong father’s details
  • If there is an spelling error or incorrect information

Changes to a death, marriage or civil partnership certificate

The information on a death, marriage or civil partnership certificate can be changed under the following circumstances:

  • If there is a spelling error or incorrect information

More information on all the above changes can be found in the expandable sections below:

 

 

How to correct an errorHow to correct an error<div class="ExternalClass66AC29FDDFFB43229C550ABCAA085562"><p><strong>Corrections to a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership can only be made if the information is wrong on the certificate.</strong> An error can only be changed in accordance with the legal procedures.</p><p>If you find a mistake in a certificate you should contact the Register Office who hold the birth, death, marriage or civil partnership entry. If the record is held by Leeds Register Office, please call us on 0113 2224408. The Registrar will advise you how to correct the certificate as you may need to provide evidence of the correct details. Alternatively you can find out more about correcting a certificate, including application form downloads on the <a rel="external" href="https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/register-offices">GOV.UK website</a>.<br></p><p>Depending on the type of error we may need to copy your documents and refer your application to the General Register Office for their approval. You may also need to visit the register office to witness the correction after we have received approval.</p><p>Once an error has been corrected you will be able to buy a new certificate.</p><p><strong>Do I need to pay for a correction? </strong></p><p>Corrections are free of charge until 1st November 2017 although you will need to pay for any new certificates.</p><p>Following a law change from 1st November 2017 an application to correct a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate will cost £75. If you application needs to be referred to the General Register Office this will incur a further fee of £15 (£90 in total).</p><p><strong>What does a correction look like?</strong></p><p>If your application is approved, a correction is made in the register.</p><p>The original information will always be shown in the register. A note will be added to the margin of the register to explain what the correct information is and when the correction was made.</p><p>Any new certificates will include the note in the margin although a short birth certificate will only include the new correct details.​​</p></div>
Add a father’s name to a birth certificateAdd a father’s name to a birth certificate<div class="ExternalClass20AEE10FE4BA450CAB370EBF8AAED3DF"><p>You can add father’s details to a birth certificate by re-registering the birth. You can also change your child's surname (if you wish) on the birth record when you re-register.</p><p>This can only be done in the following instance:</p><p>If the parents are unmarried and you would like the natural father's details added to the birth record.</p><p>To book a re-registration appointment please call us on 0113 2224408. Both parents should attend the register office for the re-registration if they are not married. You will need to complete the <a href="http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/GRO185%20form.pdf">GRO185 application form (PDF 55KB)</a> before the appointment.</p><br></div>
Update a birth certificate following the parent’s marriageUpdate a birth certificate following the parent’s marriage<div class="ExternalClassF66999CE8A82470B943CE745AD6E90ED"><p>If you marry the natural father after your child’s birth was registered – you must re-register the birth by law. When re-registering a birth we will amend the birth record to show that you are now married. You can also change the child's and parent’s surnames (if you wish) on the birth record.</p><p>This can only be done in the following instance:</p><p>If the natural parents have married each other since the birth, they need to re-register the birth to show this fact.</p><p>To book a re-registration appointment please call us on 0113 2224408. You will need to complete the <a href="/docs/LA1%20form.pdf">LA1 application form (51KB)</a> before the appointment. Only one parent needs to attend, though both need to have signed the LA1 form. If this is not possible, please call us.</p> ​​​</div>
Add to or change a child's forenameAdd to or change a child's forename<div class="ExternalClassFF529E0CC20546D8A57CDEBBBB417147"><p>You can change a child’s forename only if a new forename(s) was given in baptism or by regular use within 12 months of the birth being registered. </p><p>Please note this change can only be made once. Only the mother, father or legal guardian of the child may make the change. You must comply with any court orders in force about the naming of your child. </p><p>For more information on changing a child’s forename or to ask for an application form please call us on 0113 2224408.</p><p><strong>How much does it cost?</strong></p><p>To add or change a child’s forename is free of charge until 1st November 2017 although you will need to pay for any new certificates. Following a law change from 1st November 2017 an addition or change to a child’s forename will cost £40.</p> ​​</div>
Removing the wrong father’s detailsRemoving the wrong father’s details<div class="ExternalClass30FE73B31ADA48A08D8253CEF40D5E5E"><p>You can only apply to change who the father is if a DNA test proves (or a court order says) that the man named on the certificate isn’t the natural father.</p><p>You must use a government accredited <a href="https://www.gov.uk/get-dna-test"> DNA Test Centre</a>. You will then need to complete an <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-form-to-remove-the-incorrect-fathers-details-from-a-birth-registration">application form</a> to remove the wrong father’s details then please call us on 0113 222 4408 for further advice.</p><p> <strong>Do I need to pay for a correction?</strong></p><p>Corrections are free of charge until 1st November 2017 although you will need to pay for any new certificates.</p><p>Following a law change from 1st November 2017 an application to remove the wrong father from a birth certificate will cost £90 as it will be referred to the General Register Office.​​</p></div>

 

 

GRO185 formhttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/GRO185 form.pdf55472pdf
LA1 formhttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/LA1 form.pdf51584pdf

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