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Change a child's name or re-register a child

Last updated 10 December 2012

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Register Office opening hours

Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

We are closed on Bank Holidays and Sundays, with the exception of obtaining burial certificates for burial within 24 hours. Please call Waltham Forest Direct between 9am-11am.

This service is not available Good Friday or Christmas Day.
 

Changing a child’s forename

You can change a child’s forename in the following circumstances:
  • new forenames were given in baptism or by regular use within 12 months of the birth being registered
  • if your child has been baptised, only the baptismal names can be added to the register - the minister with custody of the baptismal register needs to confirm this with the 'Certificate of name given in Baptism' form.
Also note:
  • you must be the mother, father or guardian of the child to make the change
  • forename changes can only be made once – any further forename changes cannot be recorded
  • you must comply with any court orders in force about the naming of your child

What you need to do

If your child was baptised in a Christian church, the vicar or minister of the church needs to complete the ‘Certificate of name given in Baptism’ form. They may charge you for this. The forms are available from the DirectGov website on the following links:

Download 'Certificate of name given in Baptism' 
 
If not, you will need to complete a ‘Certificate of name not given in baptism’ form.

Download 'Certificate of name not given in Baptism'
 
Send the relevant form to the original register office. If you no longer live in the same area you can contact your local register office and enquire about re-registration by declaration.
 
Once the paperwork has been processed, an appointment can be made to attend the re-registration.

The easiest way for a birth to be re-registered is for both parents to attend the Register Office together after making an appointment.
 

Changing a child’s surname

You can only change a child’s surname in their original birth record to correct a spelling mistake.
 

Re-registering a child

However, a child can be re-registered in the following circumstances:
  • to record the natural father's details in the birth record.
  • following the marriage of the natural parents, if they were not married at the time of the birth and the father did not attend with the mother to register the baby.
If the parents have married after the child was born and you want the natural father’s details to be on the birth record, you must re-register your child’s birth. Fill in an ‘Application for re-registration following parents' marriage’ form and return it to the register office.
 
If you want the father’s name on the birth record, both parents will need to fill in an ‘Application for the re-registration of a child’s birth’ form and return it to the register office. 

If one of you can’t be there, that person also needs to fill in a ‘Statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage’ form.
 
If the child is 16 years of age or over, his or her written consent must be obtained before the surname can be changed.

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