- Option 1: Ask us to contact the second parent on your behalf
- Option 2: Tell us that we should not contact the second parent
- How to provide your documents
- Legal advice
We take privacy and safety very seriously.
The birth registration process takes this into account. When you register a birth, we will ask you if you have safety fears from the other parent.
If you can’t let the other parent know your address due to fears for your safety or wellbeing, you can:
- Ask us to contact them on your behalf.
- Tell us that we should not contact the second parent.
On this page
Option 1: Ask us to contact the second parent on your behalf
We can send your child’s birth registration to the second parent to complete.
Before sending it, we will remove your contact details.
We only share information with the second parent that is necessary to register a birth.
To complete this option, provide one of the following:
- A statutory declaration (External link) explaining your concerns and why the second parent should not have your contact details , or
- Evidence that your safety or wellbeing is at risk. For example:
- Court documents (for example, current or expired intervention orders)
- Police documents (for example, police statements)
- A letter from a:
- Family violence service
- Hospital
- Medical practitioner
- Counsellor, or
- Social worker.
You must also provide:
- The second parent’s last known contact details. Include their phone number, email, and postal or residential address.
We will then contact the second parent to complete their part of your child’s birth registration.
Option 2: Tell us that we should not contact the second parent
We will not contact the second parent if it would endanger your safety or wellbeing. This includes the safety or wellbeing of your child or other family members.
Provide a written statement from a person who can confirm your concerns, including:
- Police officer
- Family violence worker
- Social worker
- Medical doctor
- Health practitioner
- Counsellor
- Psychologist.
It must state that if you or the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) were to contact the second parent, it would put the safety or wellbeing of you, your child or other family members at risk.
How to provide your documents
You can provide documents online or in hard copy.
Upload documents when completing the birth registration
While filling in the online birth registration, you will be able to state if you have safety concerns.
If you do, we will prompt you to upload documents.
Learn more about Uploading hard copy documents online.
Email documents to us
If you don’t upload the documents with the birth registration, we will contact you. We’ll provide the email address where you can send your documents when we contact you.
Post documents to us
You can post documents to our mailing address.
Legal advice
If you need legal advice, contact:
- Law Institute of Victoria (External link) - telephone (03) 9607 9311
- Victoria Legal Aid (External link) - telephone 1300 792 387
- Federation of Community Legal Centres (External link) - telephone (03) 9652 1500.