Who can apply for a certificate

Births & Change of name

You can apply for your own birth or change of name certificate. Other people who can apply are:

  • a child’s parent
  • a person’s child – evidence of the relationship must be provided
  • a child’s legal guardian – non-parent guardians must provide evidence
  • the person’s current partner – evidence of the relationship must be provided
  • an executor of their estate, administrator or trustee – evidence of authority must be provided
  • someone with written authority or power of attorney – evidence of authority must be provided

Pre-adoption birth records are open to the child with authorisation under Section 80 of the Adoption Act 1988 (form 17)

Please note, only the registered person or the parents of the registered person (if they are under 16 years) can apply for a certificate showing gender and change of name details, unless the registered person is dead or unable to apply.  

Anyone can access a birth record more than 100 years old.

Deaths

You can apply for a death certificate if you are the deceased person’s:

  • parent
  • child
  • partner - evidence of the relationship must be provided
  • legal guardian - non-parent guardians must provide evidence
  • executor of their estate, administrator or trustee – evidence must be provided
  • power of attorney or have written consent to act on the person's behalf - evidence must be provided

Anyone can access a death record more than 25 years old.

Marriages and relationships

You can apply for your own marriage or relationship certificate. Other people who can apply are:

  • a child of the couple - evidence must be provided
  • an executor of their estate, administrator or trustee – evidence of authority must be provided
  • someone with written authority or power of attorney – evidence of authority must be provided

Anyone can access a marriage or relationship record more than 75 years old.

Certificates and information may also be supplied to:

  • Solicitors and lawyers acting on behalf of an eligible person or if a certificate is required for court purposes
  • Welfare agencies
  • Law Enforcement agencies
  • Consular offices
  • Medical organisations

Applications are assessed on a case by case basis and the Registrar can make decisions on unusual cases that may not be detailed above.

If you need more details, contact Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Last updated: 13 December 2022