- Fees
- Add the father's details
- Remove the father's name (if incorrect)
- Add birth parent's female partner
- Remove the birth parent’s female partner
- Add donor details
- Further information
You can apply to add a parent to a birth certificate, even if the birth was registered without them.
You can apply to remove a parent from a birth certificate if the parent was recorded incorrectly.
You'll need to provide:
- Certified copies of your own proof of identity
- Original certificates
- Evidence of correct information (as outlined below).
Fees
Application fee: $77.90.
Certificate fees
| Whereabouts of original certificate | Comments | Price |
|---|---|---|
| If you return the original birth certificate |
No fee for certificate. (There may be a postage and handling fee for the new certificate. Check Postage, below) |
$0.00 |
| If you don't return the original birth certificate |
The price of a legal birth certificate applies. Does not include postage. |
$51.40 |
Postage fees
We can’t refund postage fees if you decide to collect your certificate(s) in person.
Postage within Australia
| Type of certificate | Postage and handling method | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Legal certificate | Express post | $10.00 |
Postage outside Australia
| Type of certificate | Postage and handling method | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Legal certificate | International express | $54.10 |
See Australia Post (External link) for product details.
Check the payment methods we accept.
On this page
Add the father's details
The mother, father or child (if over 18) may apply to add the child's father.
Apply to add a parent to a birth certificate (External link)
You must attach a certified copy of one of the following documents:
- Results of a DNA-based parentage test (paternity test). The test must be approved by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) (External link)
- A court order directing BDM to add the father to the birth certificate. The court order may be from:
- A Victorian state court
- Another court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).
Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.
BDM may consider adding the father’s details without one of the above documents if:
- The mother named the father on the birth registration, but
- The father didn’t complete his part of the registration.
Each parent must attach:
- Certified proof of identity; and
- A statutory declaration (External link) declaring that the father is the child’s parent.
If you want to change the child's name to the birth father's name, you will need to apply to change your child's name.
Remove the father's name (if incorrect)
You can apply to remove the name of the father incorrectly named as the father.
BDM will waive the application fee in this instance.
Apply to correct a birth record (External link)
You’ll need to attach evidence that the father named on the certificate isn't the child's biological father. This may be:
- DNA-based parentage test (paternity test) approved by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) (External link)
- Court order declaring the identity of the child's father.
- Court order declaring that the registered father is not the father.
BDM can accept a court order from:
- Any Victorian state court
- Another court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).
Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.
Add birth parent's female partner
If you're the birth parent’s female partner, the child's birth certificate can show you as a parent.
When registering a birth
Child born as a result of donor treatment provided by an Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) clinic
Put down both your name and the birth parent’s name when you register your child's birth.
We can only register you as the child’s parent if you:
- Consented to the donor treatment at the ART clinic; or
- Attach a court order declaring you to be the child’s parent. The court order may be from the Supreme Court or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
If you used a Victorian ART clinic, you don’t need to provide evidence of your consent. The Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) provides that to us.
You must register your child’s birth within 60 days of your child being born.
Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.
Child born as a result of a donor treatment not provided by an ART clinic (e.g self-insemination)
For further information, go to Self-insemination.
Add birth parent’s female partner after the birth has been registered
For births on or after 1 January 2010
| Type of donor treatment | Requirements for adding birth parent's female partner |
|---|---|
| Donor treatment provided by an Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) clinic |
We can only register you as the child’s parent if you:
If you used a Victorian ART clinic, you don’t need to provide evidence of your consent. The Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) provides that to us. |
| Donor treatment not provided by an ART clinic (e.g self-insemination) |
If the birth certificate names a fatherAttach a court order to amend the birth record to show the birth parent’s female partner as the parent. The court order may be from:
If the birth certificate doesn't name a fatherAttach evidence that you participated in the donor treatment together. For further information, go to Self-insemination. |
For births before 1 January 2010
If the birth certificate names a father
You must attach a court order to amend the birth record to show the birth parent’s female partner as the parent.
We can accept a court order from:
- Any Victorian state court
- Another court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).
If the birth certificate doesn't name a father
You must attach one of the following:
- A statutory declaration from each parent to add the birth parent’s female partner (see below)
- A court order declaring you to be the child’s parent. The court order may be from the Supreme Court or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Statutory declaration to add the birth parent’s female partner
Each parent must complete a statutory declaration to add the birth parent's female partner. The statutory declaration must declare that:
- They each consented to the donor treatment that resulted in the birth of their child, and
- They were married or living together on a genuine domestic basis at the time of the donor treatment.
If your child is 18 years or over
Your child must complete a statutory declaration of consent to add the birth parent’s female partner to their birth certificate.
Apply to add a parent to a birth certificate (External link)
Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.
Remove the birth parent’s female partner
To remove the birth parent’s female partner from your child’s birth record, you must provide a court order.
Apply to correct a birth record (External link)
We can accept a court order from:
- Any Victorian state court
- Another court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).
Add donor details
If you’re the donor, the child’s birth certificate can show you as a parent. You need to provide a court order directing BDM to include you as the parent on the child’s birth registration.
Apply to correct a birth record (External link)
BDM can accept an order from an Australian court with family law jurisdiction. This may include:
- Any Victorian state court
- Another court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth). The court that most commonly does this is the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
If you don’t have a court order you will need to contact us. Email bdmbirths@justice.vic.gov.au.
Further information
For more information: