Question about short birth certificates

[Margaret in Burton]

Originally Posted by Olde Crone

I didn't think you could have a short birth cert any more?

My daughter and her partner are not married. When they went together to register the birth of my grandson, they were asked what surname the boy will use and that is what is on his (long) birth certificate.

Historically, I was born before there was a surname column on birth certificates. It was assumed by convention that you would use the surname of your father but that has never been compulsory. So I assume that the same question that is asked now, was asked then - what surname will the child use. (Where the parents were not married to each other).

OC

The short cert is the free one you get when you register a birth. The long cert you pay for. You can’t buy a short cert later.

When OH registered my eldest in 1984 he brought back a short cert, really pleased with himself as it was free. I burst into tears, baby blues probably. The midwife was at our house at the time and she sent him back to the register office with orders not to come back until he’d done it properly. He didn’t make the same mistake with the second daughter.