Genealogy Chat

If a lady has a child, and registers it under the fathers', name(which is not known to us)

then later she marries, and the new husband takes on the child as his own.........what happens to the original registration? is it amended?and a new certificate given out.......naming the spouse as father?

Bob

I would say no if it is done unofficially.
My mum registered me in her maiden name but i was always known by her new husband's surname from when i was about 2 years.

An illegitimate birth can be registered in the father's name only if he attends at the time of registration, or confirms his paternity in writing.

If a subsequent husband 'takes on' the child, in whatever context, it does not affect the original registration. That remains on the GRO index.

If the husband adopts the child - officially - a short cert will be issued.

If the father is named on the original cert, and he has not died, his consent to the adoption will be required

The original birth cert would still be available although only the child could get a copy of it. You cant amend a birth cert.

A new one would be given with the adopted parents names and adopted added.
If you check for known adopted childrens original birth ref . The original birth ref no will be crossed out and a new one added.

Hi Bob,

Going from my own birth in 1959, I think that the new husband would have had to adopt the child.

It would be unusual for a birth to be registered with a father's name unless the father was present at registration if the parents were not married.

The original birth reg will never change, it will just either be ammended if the same parents marry withtin a year, or the cert will show adopted.

A new adoption cert would be given showing the parents as known, but will not appear in the GRO, the short birth cert version hides the fact that it is an adoption cert.

Hope this helps you, and I have got this right?

Kind regards
Amanda

Hi Margaret,

My original cert in the GRO does not indicate that I was adopted, I was also able to order a copy, no problem, but this cert did show that I was adopted.

Maybe things have changed over the years.

Kind regards
Amanda

Bob,

A father name can be added up to a year after the original registration,,,,,,and the birth register will be altered acordingly,,,,,,,,,,not always showing in the GRO index,but can often be seen as at the bottom of the page,,,,,,,,,birth name see jun 1954,,this shows the birth has an altered surname,at a later date,

((this does not apply in adoption cases,,))

1960's began the inclusion against GRO birth entires that gave indication where an adoption took place.........prior to this it only will appear on a copy of the original birth certificate.

thanks for all your replies........I have not found it registered in the mothers' name, I assume it was under the fathers', so the search goes on,
thanks once again....

Bob

Bob
If the birth you are looking for is illegitimate (and the father gave consent) then the child will appear in the birth index twice... in the mother's name and again in the fathers.
To appear in the index only in the father's name we can assume the parents were married ... this will show mother's maiden name. Perhaps you can search for a marriage for a clue.
Anyone can apply for an original birth certificate, however, GRO recently implemented a 50 year rule which can make a search a little more difficult.
You may have to broaden your search to a few years earlier and later.
In answer to your original question... birth records cannot be altered but a birth can be re registered depending on the circumstances. The original cert is superseded and a new one is issued. It doesn't always show in the index that a re registration has taken place.
I recently asked GRO this question and they were kind enough to explain the re register procedure... if anyone wants to read it... pm me and I'll forward it.
Original birth certificates of adopted children are amended and the word 'adopted' is added in one of the columns.
After adoption the child is then placed on the Adopted Children Register in their adoptive names and an adoption certificate is issued in the adoptive name. The long a/cert gives all information (no birth mother details) and court name. The short a/cert looks like a regular short birth certificate and makes no mention of adoption.

Good Luck