Re-registration creates a new birth or stillbirth entry. This could be to:
- add the natural parent's details
- change parentage details
- add the parents’ marriage or civil partnership details, if it took place after you registered the birth
Any Scottish registration office can carry out re-registration. It does not have to happen at the office where you registered the birth.
There is no fee for re-registration. However, if you want to purchase an extract (certificate) of the new birth entry the usual extract fees apply.
When to apply for re-registration
You can re-register a birth or still-birth registered in Scotland if the existing entry in the register of births:
- is affected by any matter concerning their parentage, for example, if the entry does not include the parent’s details
- shows that they were found exposed (abandoned)
- shows that the parents were not married or in a civil partnership at the time of their birth, but they have married or registered their civil partnership after
You can add a date and place of marriage in any registration office in Scotland. You can do this in person or over the phone.
Who can apply for re-registration
Anyone who has parental responsibilities in relation to that person can apply.
If the child is under 16 years old
Anyone who has parental responsibilities in relation to that person can apply.
If the person is over 16 year old
They must apply themselves.
If the person has died, or was a still-born child
The following people can make an application:
- the person’s mother
- the natural father, if he is married or in a civil partnership with the mother
- the person registered as the father/parent of the child in the birth entry, if the mother is dead
Applying for re-registration
You’ll need to complete some forms to apply. There are different forms depending on who is applying.
If you are unsure which forms you need to complete, you can contact:
If the father/parent is applying
You should complete and return the following forms:
You also need to have an authorised witness sign forms 27 and DPM. The same person cannot be a witness both forms. You'll need 2 different people.
A registrar can be a witness for form 27 in any registration office in Scotland.
For form DPM, you need a:
- Justice of the Peace
- Notary Public
- other person authorised by law to administer oaths
You'll also need to have a witness sign your declaration form on the same date as you do.
If the mother is adding a father/parent
You should complete and return the following:
You also need to have an authorised witness sign forms 26 and DPF. The same person cannot be a witness for both forms. You'll need 2 different people.
A registrar can be a witness for form 26 in any registration office in Scotland.
For form DPF, you need a:
- Justice of the Peace
- Notary Public
- other person authorised by law to administer oaths
You'll also need to have a witness sign your declaration form on the same date as you do.
Re-register a birth using a Court Order
If a court has granted a decree of paternity, this can be used to:
- add the father/parent to the birth entry
- make reference to the decree
The child’s mother must also request that the father/parent’s details are included in the birth entry. They can do this by:
- completing form RR1
- acting as informant to the re-registered birth entry
- providing a written request for the father/parents details to be included on the birth entry
Change a child's name to the same as their father/parent
You can do this through re-registration as long as:
- the child had the mother’s surname
- you now wish to include the mother’s surname as a forename
If you want to change the child’s first name, this can be done through our change of name process.
