Registration of Births Bill 1996

Public bill · Government · Presented

The Registration of Births Bill 1996 would replace the outdated birth-certificate format, which recorded the father’s address and occupation but not the mother’s and did not record the child’s surname. New certificates would include both parents’ addresses and occupations, the former names of both parents, and the child’s surname. Parents could choose the mother’s surname, the father’s surname, or both; in special circumstances, the Registrar General could approve another surname. The changes would apply to births registered or re-registered after the law began, with administrative changes needed to introduce the new forms.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the law in relation to the registration and re-registration of births and to provide for related matters

Last updated 10 July 2023