Form

How to apply for a birth re-registration to add the father’s details (English and Welsh accessible)

Updated 28 July 2026

1.  General Information / Gwybodaeth Gyffredinol

Section 10A of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 allows for a child’s birth to be re-registered to include the father’s details where certain circumstances are met:

Mae Adran 10A o Ddeddf Cofrestru Genedigaethau a Marwolaethau 1953 yn caniatáu ailgofrestru genedigaeth plentyn i gynnwys manylion y tad lle bo amgylchiadau penodol yn cael eu bodloni:

• the parents were not married to or in a civil partnership with each other when the child was born and have not married or formed a civil partnership with each other since and / nid oedd y rhieni’n briod nac mewn partneriaeth sifil â’i gilydd pan anwyd y plentyn ac nid ydynt wedi priodi na ffurfio partneriaeth sifil â’i gilydd ers hynny a

• the original birth registration does not show any father’s details / nid yw’r gofrestr geni wreiddiol yn dangos unrhyw fanylion am y tad

The following are required to attend the register office to make the re-registration: Mae’n ofynnol i’r canlynol fynychu’r swyddfa gofrestru i ailgofrestru:

• Both parents / Y ddau riant

or / neu

• One parent with a statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage form completed by the parent not attending / Un rhiant gyda ffurflen datganiad statudol o gydnabod rhiantiaeth wedi’i chwblhau gan y rhiant nad oedd yn mynychu

or / neu

• One parent with a court order(s) or Parental Responsibility Agreement / Un rhiant gyda gorchymyn(au) llys neu Gytundeb Cyfrifoldeb Rhiant

2. How do I apply for a re-registration? / Sut ydw i’n gwneud cais am ailgofrestru?

You must complete the GRO 185 form ‘Application by mother and/or father to re-register their child’s birth to add the father’s details’.

Rhaid i chi lenwi’r ffurflen GRO 185 ‘Cais gan fam a/neu dad i ailgofrestru genedigaeth eu plentyn i ychwanegu manylion y tad’.

3. Where can I get an application form? / Ble alla i gael ffurflen gais?

• By downloading it from / Drwy ei lawrlwytho o https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-re-register-a-childs-birth-and-add-the-fathers-details

• Your local register office may be able to supply you with one / Efallai y bydd eich swyddfa gofrestru leol yn gallu rhoi un i chi
• You can request an application form to be posted to you by calling / Gallwch ofyn am ffurflen gais i gael ei phostio atoch drwy ffonio 0300 123 1837

4. Is there a fee? / A oes ffi?

There is no charge for the re-registration of the birth, but you will have to pay for any new certificates following the re-registration.

Nid oes ffi am ailgofrestru’r enedigaeth, ond bydd yn rhaid i chi dalu am unrhyw dystysgrifau newydd yn dilyn yr ailgofrestriad.

5. Where the mother and father were married or in a civil partnership with each other at the time of, or following the birth, a different application form to add the father’s details is required / Os oedd y fam a’r tad yn briod neu mewn partneriaeth sifil â’i gilydd ar adeg, neu ar ôl yr enedigaeth, mae angen ffurflen gais wahanol i ychwanegu manylion y tad

Here is a quick guide to which application form you should complete. This does not show every scenario.

Dyma ganllaw cyflym i ba ffurflen gais y dylech ei llenwi. Nid yw hyn yn dangos pob senario.

If you were in a Marriage or Civil Partnership with the mother/father at the time of the child’s birth, and the father’s details were recorded on the child’s birth certificate

Os oeddech mewn Priodas neu Bartneriaeth Sifil gyda’r fam/tad adeg genedigaeth y plentyn, a bod manylion y tad wedi’u cofnodi ar dystysgrif geni’r plentyn

Where only one informant registered the child’s birth, no application to re-register the birth is required.

Lle mai dim ond un hysbysydd a gofrestrodd enedigaeth y plentyn, nid oes angen cais i ailgofrestru’r enedigaeth.

If you were in a Marriage or Civil Partnership with the mother/father at the time of the child’s birth, and the father’s details were not recorded on the child’s birth certificate

Os oeddech mewn Priodas neu Bartneriaeth Sifil gyda’r fam/tad adeg genedigaeth y plentyn, a bod manylion y tad heb eu cofnodi ar dystysgrif geni’r plentyn

Visit / Ewch i Correct a birth registration: What corrections can be made.

If you were not in a Marriage or Civil Partnership with the mother/father at the time of the child’s birth, and entered a Marriage or Civil Partnership with each other after the child’s birth

Os nad oeddech mewn Priodas neu Bartneriaeth Sifil gyda’r fam/tad adeg genedigaeth y plentyn, ac wedi mynd i Briodas neu Bartneriaeth Sifil gyda’ch gilydd ar ôl genedigaeth y plentyn

Visit / Ewch i Application to re-register a birth following marriage or civil partnership of natural parents - GOV.UK.

If you were not in a Marriage or Civil Partnership with the mother/father at the time of the child’s birth, and have not entered a Marriage or Civil Partnership with each other after the child’s birth

Os nad oeddech mewn Priodas neu Bartneriaeth Sifil gyda’r fam/tad adeg genedigaeth y plentyn, ac nad ydych wedi mynd i Briodas neu Bartneriaeth Sifil gyda’ch gilydd ar ôl genedigaeth y plentyn

Where the father’s details are not recorded in the birth certificate, visit

Lle nad yw manylion y tad wedi’u cofnodi yn y dystysgrif geni, ewch i

Application to re-register a child’s birth and add the father’s details

6. Where do I send my application and documents to? / I ble ddylwn i anfon fy nghais a’m dogfennau?

The following options provide advice about where to send your application. Please note, your application will be delayed if you do not send your documents to the correct office.

Mae’r opsiynau canlynol yn rhoi cyngor ynghylch ble i anfon eich cais. Noder, bydd eich cais yn cael ei ohirio os na fyddwch yn anfon eich dogfennau i’r swyddfa gywir.

OPTION 1 / OPSIWN 1

You have answered NO to ALL of the questions in sections 5 and 6 of the application form.

Rydych wedi ateb NA i BOB cwestiwn yn adrans 5 a 6 o’r ffurflen gais.

You have indicated at section 1 that BOTH parents can attend the register office in England or Wales together

Rydych wedi nodi yn adran 1 y gall y DDAU riant fynychu’r swyddfa gofrestru yng Nghymru neu Loegr gyda’i gilydd

1) Contact the register office you both wish to go to Cysylltwch â’r swyddfa gofrestru yr hoffech chi’ch dau fynd iddi

2)    Advise them you have completed the application form for the re-registration Rhowch wybod iddyn nhw eich bod wedi cwblhau’r ffurflen gais ar gyfer ailgofrestru

3)    Follow any instructions provided by the local register office Dilynwch unrhyw gyfarwyddiadau a ddarperir gan y swyddfa gofrestru leol

OPTION 2 / OPSIWN 2

You have answered NO to ALL of the questions in sections 5 and 6 of the application form.

Rydych wedi ateb NA i BOB un o’r cwestiynau yn adrans 5 a 6 o’r ffurflen gais.

Only ONE parent is able to attend a register office in England or Wales

Dim ond UN rhiant sy’n gallu mynychu swyddfa gofrestru yng Nghymru neu Loegr

1)    The parent who is unable to attend the register office will need to complete a Statutory Declaration of Acknowledgement of Parentage (Form 16) this is available from any register office in England or Wales or you can download a form from

Bydd angen i’r rhiant sy’n methu â mynychu’r swyddfa gofrestru lenwi Datganiad Statudol o Gydnabyddiaeth Rhiant (Ffurflen 16) sydd ar gael o unrhyw swyddfa gofrestru yng Nghymru neu Loegr neu gallwch lawrlwytho ffurflen o

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-declaration-of-acknowledgement-of-parentage-form

2)    Your completed application form and Form 16 can either be sent by post to GRO or submitted to your local register office to be forwarded to GRO

Gellir anfon eich ffurflen gais wedi’i chwblhau a Ffurflen 16 drwy’r post at GRO neu eu cyflwyno i’ch swyddfa gofrestru leol i’w hanfon ymlaen at GRO

OPTION 3 / OPSIWN 3

You have indicated at section 1 that BOTH parents can attend the register office in England or Wales together

Rydych chi wedi nodi yn adran 1 y gall y DDAU riant fynychu’r swyddfa gofrestru yng Nghymru neu Loegr gyda’i gilydd.

You have answered NO to the question in section 5 and YES to ANY of the questions in section 6.

Rydych chi wedi ateb NA i’r cwestiwn yn adran 5 ac IE i UNRHYW un o’r cwestiynau yn adran 6.

1)    Your completed application form can either be sent by post to GRO or submitted to your local register office to be forwarded to GRO Gallwch anfon eich ffurflen gais wedi’i chwblhau drwy’r post at y Swyddfa Gofrestru Gyffredinol neu ei chyflwyno i’ch swyddfa gofrestru leol i’w hanfon ymlaen at y Swyddfa Gofrestru Gyffredinol

2)    Send certified photocopies of original court order(s) or Parental Responsibility Agreement with your application Anfonwch lungopïau ardystiedig o’r gorchymyn(ion) llys gwreiddiol neu’r Cytundeb Cyfrifoldeb Rhiant gyda’ch cais

OPTION 4 / OPSIWN 4

Options 1, 2 and 3 are NOT applicable

NID yw Dewisiadau 1, 2 a 3 yn berthnasol

Where one of the parents is unwilling to co-operate with a re-registration application, there is provision for ONE parent to re-register the birth using a court order or a Parental Responsibility Agreement (PRA).

Pan nad yw un o’r rhieni’n fodlon cydweithredu â chais ailgofrestru, mae darpariaeth i UN rhiant ailgofrestru’r enedigaeth gan ddefnyddio gorchymyn llys neu Gytundeb Cyfrifoldeb Rhiant. (PRA).

1)    Your completed application form can either be sent by post to GRO or submitted to your local register office to be forwarded to GRO

Gallwch anfon eich ffurflen gais wedi’i chwblhau drwy’r post at GRO neu ei chyflwyno i’ch swyddfa gofrestru leol i’w hanfon ymlaen at GRO

2)    Send certified photocopies of original court order(s) or PRA with your application

Anfonwch lungopïau ardystiedig o orchymyn(ion) llys gwreiddiol neu PRA gyda’ch cais

7. What court orders are acceptable? / Pa orchmynion llys sy’n dderbyniol?

The acceptable court orders issued by a court in the United Kingdom (UK) are as follows: Dyma’r gorchmynion llys derbyniol a gyhoeddir gan lys yn y Deyrnas Unedig (DU):

• Section 4 or 4ZA of the Children Act 1989 – that person has made an agreement with the mother that they have parental responsibility for the child (PRA). / Adran 4 neu 4ZA o Ddeddf Plant 1989 – mae’r person hwnnw wedi gwneud cytundeb gyda’r fam fod ganddo gyfrifoldeb rhiant dros y plentyn (PRA).

• Paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 – that person is making a specific financial provision for child. / Paragraff 1 o Atodlen 1 o Ddeddf Plant 1989 – mae’r person hwnnw’n gwneud darpariaeth ariannol benodol ar gyfer y plentyn.

• Section 4 of the Family Law Reform Act 1987 - that person shall have all the parental rights and duties in respect of the child. / Adran 4 o Ddeddf Diwygio Cyfraith y Teulu 1987 - bydd gan y person hwnnw’r holl hawliau a dyletswyddau rhiant mewn perthynas â’r plentyn.

• Section 9 of the Guardianship of Minors Act 1971 – that person should have custody or care and control or legal custody of the child. / Adran 9 o Ddeddf Gwarcheidiaeth Plant Dan Oed 1971 – dylai’r person hwnnw gael gwarchodaeth neu ofal a rheolaeth neu warcheidiaeth gyfreithiol dros y plentyn.

• Section 9 or 11b of the Guardianship of Minors Act 1971- that person is required to make financial provision for the child. / Adran 9 neu 11b o Ddeddf Gwarcheidiaeth Plant Dan Oed 1971 - mae’n ofynnol i’r person hwnnw wneud darpariaeth ariannol ar gyfer y plentyn.

• Section 4 of the Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957 – naming that person as the putative father of the child. / Adran 4 o Ddeddf Achosion Cysylltu 1957 – enwi’r person hwnnw fel tad tybiedig y plentyn.

Important: Court orders and evidence such as a DNA test, child maintenance agreements obtained outside the UK are not acceptable for the purpose of re-registering a birth. / Pwysig: Nid yw gorchmynion llys a thystiolaeth fel prawf DNA, cytundebau cynhaliaeth plant a gafwyd y tu allan i’r DU yn dderbyniol at ddiben ailgofrestru genedigaeth.

8. What does a re-registration look like? / Sut olwg sydd ar ailgofrestru?

A new birth registration will be created to include the father’s details.

Bydd cofrestru genedigaeth newydd yn cael ei greu i gynnwys manylion y tad.

9. Do I need to send in original documents? / Oes angen i mi anfon dogfennau gwreiddiol?

When sending the application by post to the General Register Office, the application form and Form 16 must be original documents. If you are submitting court order(s) and/or a Parental Responsibility Agreement with your application, then these should be certified as true copies of original documents. A list giving examples of suitable persons can be found at:

Wrth anfon y cais drwy’r post i’r Swyddfa Gofrestru Gyffredinol, rhaid i’r ffurflen gais a Ffurflen 16 fod yn ddogfennau gwreiddiol. Os ydych chi’n cyflwyno gorchymyn(ion) llys a/neu Gytundeb Cyfrifoldeb Rhiant gyda’ch cais, yna dylid ardystio’r rhain fel copïau gwir o ddogfennau gwreiddiol. Gellir dod o hyd i restr sy’n rhoi enghreifftiau o bersonau addas yn: https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

The person certifying the photocopies must not be related by birth or marriage/civil partnership to the applicant(s), be in a personal relationship with them or live at the same address. The certifier should:

Ni ddylai’r person sy’n ardystio’r llungopïau fod yn perthyn trwy enedigaeth na phriodas/partneriaeth sifil i’r ymgeisydd(wyr), bod mewn perthynas bersonol â nhw na byw yn yr un cyfeiriad. Dylai’r ardystiwr:

a.    include the words - “Certified to be a true copy of the original seen by me” / cynnwys y geiriau - “Wedi’i ardystio i fod yn gopi gwir o’r gwreiddiol a welais i”

b. sign the photocopy / llofnodi’r llungopi

c. print their name / argraffu eu henw

d. confirm their occupation / cadarnhau eu galwedigaeth

e. add their address and telephone number / ychwanegu eu cyfeiriad a’u rhif ffôn

If you are taking the application to a register office, then they should be able to certify your documents as a true copy of the original which means you can retain your original documentation. However, any Form 16 submitted to the register office will be retained for the purpose of the re-registration.

Os ydych chi’n mynd â’r cais i swyddfa gofrestru, yna dylent allu ardystio eich dogfennau fel copi gwir o’r gwreiddiol, sy’n golygu y gallwch gadw eich dogfennau gwreiddiol. Fodd bynnag, bydd unrhyw Ffurflen 16 a gyflwynir i’r swyddfa gofrestru yn cael ei chadw at ddiben yr ailgofrestriad.

GRO or the Local Registration Service reserves the right to ask you to submit the original document if needed.

Mae’r GRO neu’r Gwasanaeth Cofrestru Lleol yn cadw’r hawl i ofyn i chi gyflwyno’r ddogfen wreiddiol os oes angen.

GRO will confidentially destroy all certified copies submitted with the application unless specifically asked to return them.

Bydd y GRO yn dinistrio’n gyfrinachol yr holl gopïau ardystiedig a gyflwynir gyda’r cais oni bai y gofynnir yn benodol iddynt eu dychwelyd.

10. Will the father acquire Parental Responsibility of the child when the birth is re-registered? / A fydd y tad yn cael Cyfrifoldeb Rhiant dros y plentyn pan fydd yr enedigaeth yn cael ei hail- gofrestru?

Information about how Parental Responsibility can be obtained or removed can be found in the following link:

Gellir dod o hyd i wybodaeth am sut y gellir cael neu ddileu Cyfrifoldeb Rhiant yn y ddolen ganlynol:

https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities

11.  Where can I find out more? / Ble alla i gael rhagor o wybodaeth?

For further information please contact your local register office or contact the General Register Office on 0300 123 1837 (Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm), email GROCasework@gro.gov.uk or visit the following link:

Am ragor o wybodaeth cysylltwch â’ch swyddfa gofrestru leol neu cysylltwch â’r Swyddfa Gofrestru Gyffredinol ar 0300 123 1837 (Llun – Gwener: 9am – 5pm), e-bostiwch GROCasework@gro.gov.uk neu ewch i’r ddolen ganlynol:

https://www.gov.uk/general-register-office

The information contained in this leaflet is based on the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 but is not a full statement of the law.

Mae’r wybodaeth yn y daflen hon yn seiliedig ar Ddeddf Cofrestru Genedigaethau a Marwolaethau 1953 ond nid yw’n ddatganiad llawn o’r gyfraith

For the purpose of detecting and preventing crime, information relating to an application may be passed to and verified with other government departments or law enforcement agencies.

At ddiben canfod ac atal troseddau, gellir trosglwyddo a gwirio gwybodaeth sy’n ymwneud â chais ag adrannau eraill y llywodraeth neu asiantaethau gorfodi’r gyfraith.

The General Register Office is part of His Majesty’s Passport Office.

Mae’r Swyddfa Gofrestru Gyffredinol yn rhan o Swyddfa Basbort Ei Fawrhydi.