Dadtalk

When my child was born I was not named ('Father unknown') on the birth certificate (the mother and I were very young). The mother would not allow me to see my child and moved to another area. I later discovered that she married and had her husband's name put on my child's birth certificate.
My child is now an adult and knows about me. Does anyone know if I can get the fathers name changed on the a birth certificate?

Mcmillan11 wrote:


I've never heard of this before. Since your child is an adult, there is no legal benefit that I am aware of in persuing this - I can understand why you feel you want to do this, but will it achieve anything in reality? Since your child knows about you, the piece of paper doesn't achieve anything extra - your feeling for him/her count for much more.

I want the name on the birth certificate as I am his father. If anything should happen to me he would have no legal right, also birth certificates are historical documents and should be corrrect. I don't want my sons histrorical document listed under the wrong family.
I'm proud of my son and want to be legally recognised as his father.

Mcmillan11 wrote:


OK, fair enough - as I said, I can understand emotionally why you would want this, and it's a good point about the historical document.

One thing that does occur to me though, is that your ex has intentionally given false information when adding her husbands name to the birth certificate - as far as I am aware, this is an offence. Perhaps you could use this as a bargaining tool to get her to agree to have it corrected.

I have spoken to her and she has agreed to the change but I don't know if or how to do it? Also, would the father who is named on the certificate need to be involved and nobody know's where he is?

Mcmillan11 wrote:



I'd ring the registry office - they'll be the experts on this.