Name of the Organization : Surrey County Council
Type of Facility : How To Correcting A Birth Or Death Registration
State : Surrey
Country : England
Website : http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/people-and-community/birth-death-marriage-and-civil-partnerships/birth/correcting-a-birth-or-death-registration
Birth Correction : https://www.statusin.org/uploads/25665-BirthCorrection.pdf
Death Correction : https://www.statusin.org/uploads/25665-DeathCorrection.pdf
How To Correcting A Birth Or Death Registration :
** If you have discovered an error in a birth or death record, it may be possible to arrange for the entry to be corrected.
Related : Surrey County Council How To Obtain Copy Certificates England : www.statusin.org/25658.html
** A correction can only be made when the original information is wrong.
** A correction cannot be used to show new information because circumstances have changed since the registration.
** The type of correction required depends entirely on what information needs to be changed.
** Some errors can be authorised by the register office holding the register; others will require authorisation by the General Register Office in Southport.
How do I apply for a correction?
** You should first contact us to discuss the error you have found.
** You may be asked to complete an application form for the correction and return it to the General Register Office.
** You can download both the application form and guidance notes from the attachments below.
** Alternatively, we will be happy to send copies to you.
** The application form needs to be completed by hand as it requires original signatures.
How do I prove the information on the registration is wrong?
** You need to show that the information originally given at the time of the registration was wrong.
** You will have to produce documents that clearly show what the correct information should have been and these documents should be valid or dated around the date of birth or death.
** Example documents are given in the download guidance notes attached below.
** If you cannot provide any supporting document, a correction is not usually possible.
What will the correction look like?
** The original information on the registration will not change but the corrected information will be written in the margin of the entry indicating what the information should have been and the date that it was changed.
** Certificates issued from that record will also show the note in the margin detailing the correction to the entry.
Does it cost anything to do a correction?
** There is no charge by the register office to make a correction.
** However, there is a fee for each certificate requested that shows the correction note.
Who can apply for a correction to a birth/death record?
** Birth registration – usually it would be the mother or father (if his details are entered on the registration).
** If neither are available, please contact us to establish whether anyone else is eligible to do so.
** Death registration – usually it would be the person who originally registered the death.
** Another person may be qualified with a letter from the original informant; please contact us for further information.
Correct A Birth or Death Registration :
Who can apply :
The following people can apply for a correction :
** the mother
** the father (if his details are on the certificate)
** If you’re applying to change a child’s name and both parents are named on the certificate, both must sign the application form.
** The child named on the certificate may be able to apply for a correction if their parents aren’t available.
Removing the wrong father’s details :
** It’s not always necessary for the named father to take part in the correction process.
The General Register Office (GRO) can correct the entry if 2 of the following people apply to have it changed :
** the mother
** the natural father
** the man named on the birth certificate as the father
** At least 1 of these must sign the application form.
** You need to provide the contact addresses for the mother, the man named as the father on the certificate and the true biological father (if he took part in a DNA test).
How to apply :
Proving the registration is wrong :
** You’ll need to show that the information given at the time of the registration was wrong.
** You must send in documents with your application that show what the correct information should have been.
** These documents should be valid or dated around the time your child was born.
Documents you can send in include a :
** passport
** photocard driving licence
** bank, building society or credit card statement
** letter from a hospital or doctor
** letter from a government department
How long applications take :
** There isn’t a set time for how long applications to local register offices will take.
General Register Office (GRO) applications :
** If you are making an application to the GRO and there are no problems with your application, you should receive a reply within 10 working days.
** If the GRO asks you for more information, each further reply from them may take up to 20 working days.
** In exceptional circumstances applications may take longer to process.