Re-registration of a birth

In certain circumstances a birth that has already been registered may be re-registered. Find out more and download the relevant General Register Office (GRO) forms.

Unmarried couples

You can re-register a birth where a child has been born to an unmarried couple and the father’s name was not recorded when the birth was registered.

Form GRO 12

If both the mother and the father want the father’s name to be recorded on the birth entry, you should complete application form GRO12.

• Application to re-register a birth - form GRO 12 (PDF 100 KB)
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Form GRO 12A

If there has been a court issued Declaration of Parentage, you should complete form GRO 12A and send to the General Register Office with the Declaration to allow the re-registration of the birth.

• Application to re-register a birth  - Declaration of parentage (Article 31 B Matrimonial And Family Proceedings (NI) Order 1989) - form GRO 12A (PDF 88 KB)
• Help with PDF files

Form GRO 15

Where a child has been born to an unmarried couple who have since married, you should complete form GRO15.

• Application for re-registration of the birth of a person born in Northern Ireland before his or her parents marriage - form GRO 15 (PDF 28 KB)
• Help with PDF files

Corrections

Occasionally an error may appear on a birth certificate, for example an incorrect address or wrong date. A correction may be made by means of a marginal note to show the correct details. You should complete the following amendment form to notify GRO of the correction required.

• Application for amendment to details recorded (PDF 40 KB)
• Help with PDF files