Adding Deceased Biological Father to Birth Certificate?

[NoPackDrill]

Anyone done this? Recommendations re solicitors?

Brief circumstances: my original birth certificate has a blank for father’s name. I now know his identity via paternal sibling DNA matches - both he and my biological mother are now deceased.

Googling suggests there is a way forward, via Family Court —> Declaration of Paternity —> re-registering the birth. Easy peasy.

I think I need a solicitor!

[cobra kid]

Is it just for completeness?

[Jamescrs]

I would think you definitely need a solicitor who specialises in family law.

I'm absolutely not wanting to make any suspicions as to your motivations OP but I can see how it could be abused if this is possible so I imagine there will be a legal process which would have to be gone through and at least reviewed and signed off by a family court judge.

[NoPackDrill]

cobra kid said:

Is it just for completeness?

Partly, yes, belonging. I can be a slightly fragile character (except in ‘proper’ emergencies!) and it’s a chip my shoulder has long carried - always the outsider looking in. An inability - even now - to separate what’s a deliberate snub / slur from what’s just rubbing along with people.

There is also an ulterior motive - I would be entitled (in theory) to my biological father’s citizenship, via descent. Nice passport to have, I would like to live there to write a book, and it might help my teenage son in the future (although he wouldn’t automatically qualify as yet).

[Drawweight]

Quick Google and it’s possible but will need a Declaration of Parentage which is a court process.

On the positive side it doesn’t seem particularly difficult or in fact unusual.

[ADJimbo]

It can be done but there maybe some complications with the fact that both parents are deceased. Your birth will need re-registering. I don’t know the precise background of your family but you’ll need to complete a GRO185.

Rather than go feet-first into a Solicitor speak to your local registry office and take advice from them with regards to both parents have now passed. They may accept the genealogy evidence you have or they may not in your case. They’re helpful people and will point you in the right direction

I do hope you are able to achieve your objective.

[LimmerickLad]

Inheritance?

[NoPackDrill]

LimmerickLad said:

Inheritance?

No. Partly citizenship, partly recognition.

[NoPackDrill]

ADJimbo said:

Rather than go feet-first into a Solicitor speak to your local registry office and take advice from them with regards to both parents have now passed. They may accept the genealogy evidence you have or they may not in your case. They’re helpful people and will point you in the right direction

I do hope you are able to achieve your objective.

Thanks and thanks! I’ll pop into (make an appointment?) with local registry office for advice - my birth was actually registered about 100 miles away.

[ADJimbo]

NoPackDrill said:

ADJimbo said:

Rather than go feet-first into a Solicitor speak to your local registry office and take advice from them with regards to both parents have now passed. They may accept the genealogy evidence you have or they may not in your case. They’re helpful people and will point you in the right direction

I do hope you are able to achieve your objective.

Thanks and thanks! I’ll pop into (make an appointment?) with local registry office for advice - my birth was actually registered about 100 miles away.

I deal with Registrars as part of my professional practice - I’d pick up the phone - in the first instance and have a natter. If you get to the point of re-registering they’ll only do this by appointment. Appointment lead-times are varying between a few days and a month in some locations

[Inbox]

If the Father was still alive, would he have any say in this process?

And the fact they are deceased, would this impact the situation or process?

What isn't clear is why the Birth Certificate has the entry for Father as blank, not trying to pry but the reason for this is probably quite relevant.

[Riley Blue]

Inbox said:

If the Father was still alive, would he have any say in this process?

He isn't so that doesn't need to be addressed

Inbox said:

And the fact they are deceased, would this impact the situation or process?

That is precisely what the OP is ascertaining.

Inbox said:

What isn't clear is why the Birth Certificate has the entry for Father as blank, not trying to pry but the reason for this is probably quite relevant.

That's for the OP to consider, not us.

[ac.cobra]

Probably the father left the mother after getting pregnant.

[Inbox]

I think the only certainty in all this is families are complicated.

The OP needs to justify re-registering his birth so a new certificate can be issued with the additional info he wants.

Further I don't think just having DNA evidence in isolation should be adequate as scientific advances have muddied the waters.

[Riley Blue]

Inbox said:

I think the only certainty in all this is families are complicated.

The OP needs to justify re-registering his birth so a new certificate can be issued with the additional info he wants.

Further I don't think just having DNA evidence in isolation should be adequate as scientific advances have muddied the waters.

DNA testing is over 99% accurate. What are the scientific advances you mention?

[Inbox]

Riley Blue said:

Inbox said:

I think the only certainty in all this is families are complicated.

The OP needs to justify re-registering his birth so a new certificate can be issued with the additional info he wants.

Further I don't think just having DNA evidence in isolation should be adequate as scientific advances have muddied the waters.

DNA testing is over 99% accurate. What are the scientific advances you mention?

I can only assume you have been living in a hole for the last 40 years if you need to ask that.

[Sebring440]

Inbox said:

Riley Blue said:

Inbox said:

I think the only certainty in all this is families are complicated.

The OP needs to justify re-registering his birth so a new certificate can be issued with the additional info he wants.

Further I don't think just having DNA evidence in isolation should be adequate as scientific advances have muddied the waters.

DNA testing is over 99% accurate. What are the scientific advances you mention?

I can only assume you have been living in a hole for the last 40 years if you need to ask that.

Or you don't know what the "scientific advances" are if you need to say that.

[Inbox]

Sebring440 said:

Inbox said:

Riley Blue said:

Inbox said:

I think the only certainty in all this is families are complicated.

The OP needs to justify re-registering his birth so a new certificate can be issued with the additional info he wants.

Further I don't think just having DNA evidence in isolation should be adequate as scientific advances have muddied the waters.

DNA testing is over 99% accurate. What are the scientific advances you mention?

I can only assume you have been living in a hole for the last 40 years if you need to ask that.

Or you don't know what the "scientific advances" are if you need to say that.

I could suggest a few but I was trying to be a little delicate all things considered rather than using a bloody sledge hammer as you are trying to use which just seems to be spiteful and cruel to the OP.

[Riley Blue]

Inbox said:

Sebring440 said:

Inbox said:

Riley Blue said:

Inbox said:

I think the only certainty in all this is families are complicated.

The OP needs to justify re-registering his birth so a new certificate can be issued with the additional info he wants.

Further I don't think just having DNA evidence in isolation should be adequate as scientific advances have muddied the waters.

DNA testing is over 99% accurate. What are the scientific advances you mention?

I can only assume you have been living in a hole for the last 40 years if you need to ask that.

Or you don't know what the "scientific advances" are if you need to say that.

I could suggest a few but I was trying to be a little delicate all things considered rather than using a bloody sledge hammer as you are trying to use which just seems to be spiteful and cruel to the OP.

The DNA testing I have had done as a result of having no father's name on my birth certificate put me in touch with a cousin in a part of the country I had no idea I had connections with.

Having exchanged photographs we could be brothers; it's like looking in a mirror. I have a very good idea who my father was but don't feel the need to verify it. I do however, totally empathise with the OP.

To repeat, what are these scientific advances?

[OIC]

DNA paternity testing for father to son is very easy and extremely accurate as they both have the same Y chromosome if the father is the father and / or the son is the son.