Add or remove a parent on a birth certificate

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 showing incorrect information
• Evidence of correct information (as outlined below).

A fee of $76.70 applies.

If you return the original birth certificate, we issue a replacement free of charge.

If you don't return the original, you can apply for a replacement at an extra cost of $33.80.

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 the DNA-based parentage test (paternity test) approved by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) (External link)
• A court order from a Victorian state court or other court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth) directing BDM to add a parent to the birth certificate.

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. 

(This is dependent on any paternity disputes).

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 or other court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).

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. You need to have given your consent at the time of the donor treatment that resulted in the pregnancy.

When registering a birth

Child born as a result of donor treatment provided by an Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) clinic

For births a result of a donor treatment carried out by an ART clinic, simply put both your and the birth parent’s name down on the birth registration when you register your child's birth.

BDM can only register you as the child’s parent if you provided your consent to the donor treatment to the ART clinic.

If you used a Victorian ART clinic, advice of your consent to the ART clinic is provided to BDM through the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA). You cannot be added as a parent if BDM does not receive advice of your consent from VARTA.

Your child’s birth must be registered within 60 days of your child being born.

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 birth registration

For births on or after 1 January 2010
 

For births before 1 January 2010

If the birth certificate names a father, your application must include a court order to amend the birth record to show the birth parent’s female partner as the parent. BDM can accept a court order from any Victorian state court or other court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).

If the birth certificate doesn't name a father, you’ll need to attach evidence that you participated in the donor treatment together. 

Each parent must complete a statutory declaration to add the birth parent's female partner, declaring 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 to consent to add the birth parent’s female partner to their birth certificate.

Apply to add a parent to a birth certificate (External link)

Remove the birth parent’s female partner

If the evidence required (see above) has been provided to BDM to register/add the birth parent’s female partner to your child’s birth registration under this policy, BDM will only remove the birth parent’s female partner from your child’s birth registration if a court order can be provided. BDM can accept a court order from any Victorian state court or other court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).

Alternatively, an application can be made to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (External link) (VCAT)  for a review of the decision made by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (the Registrar). An application must be made to VCAT within 28 days of the Registrar making their decision.

Contact details for VCAT are:

55 King Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone (03) 9628 9755
Fax (03) 9628 9891 

Further information

For more information: 

•    Email vicbdm@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).