Registering child's birth after marriage

[Dinosaurgalore]

Not so much aibu more posting for traffic.

Someone mentioned that when you marry you should register your child's birth (if marrying the father)

Has anyone done this? Is it really necessary. Married dh when our d's was 3.

you are supposed to. But I don't think anything happens if you don't.

How long ago did you marry?

Yeah you are meant to.

Not many people do though

We did. Don't see the problem with doing it tbh.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-re-register-a-childs-birth-following-marriage-of-natural-parents

Oops just realised we haven't done this yet

Yes you're supposed to.... we haven't done it either

It's so they are officially recognised as a child of the marriage, any subsequent children born in wedlock have more rights to (irrc) inheritance than children born out of wedlock.

Ridiculous in this day and age whatever the reason anyway.

We did. We had DD before marriage and DS afterwards. Technically DD would have had lower inheritance rights as she would have legally been a half bastard. Or something.

I did it after I married it's a law in Ireland . I waited until registered my next child though and asked the registrar what to do . I was married over a year at that stage . But I do know people who don't bother doing it . It has to do with inheritance laws as far as I can remember

You re-register the child as legitimate. It's a horrific aspect of our law, but illegitimate children have less rights of inheritance than ligitimate ones and their inclusion in a will can be challenged by a sibling who was born within marriage.

I remember being told about it when we registered the twins.

I did, I wanted to change their surname from mine to husbands after we married and this was the easiest way to do it. They got new birth certificates with their new surnames on.
I don't see why you'd bother though otherwise? Most people don't!

Think in the old fashioned world it stops them being a "bastard" as they then class as the child of married parents not unmarried - it you have a country estate to pass to your first legitimate child it might really matter! - never got round to it myself and am now divorced so guess it's too late - guess there is no worry who the estate goes too!!

You don't have to, it's optional. However, my (now) DH and I had two children out of wedlock and one after subsequent marriage. We registered new baby as married couple and booked appointment to change first two children into married couple details and registrar said it was wise as due to old laws in the eyes of a law in case of dispute the child registered between married parents has a stronger legal position than those out of wedlock. Since they all have same parents I would never want them to feel any inequality that I could avoid so they've all been redone

Actually, yes you do, but I suspect the reason is because they've never got around to repealing the law that requires it yet.

If you don't, you risk a fine.

The fine is £2

You re-register the child as legitimate. It's a horrific aspect of our law, but illegitimate children have less rights of inheritance than ligitimate ones and their inclusion in a will can be challenged by a sibling who was born within marriage

This is not the case any more and has not been for a long time. If a parent dies without leaving a will, children born in and out of wedlock have equal rights. Same under the Inheritance Act in case of someone challenging a will for making inadequate provision for a child.

Yep. We did it as daughter was born before we married. (Had a son later). Was shocked to find out that any child born within marriage would have more rights if we didn't re-register our 'bastard' child! She already had husband's surname.

How awful that in this day and age a child is deemed 'less' in the eyes of the law because their parents were unmarried

Don't worry- they really are not. The only thing were they are treated differently is that their fathers will not have automatic parental responsibility unless the mother names them on the birth certificate. Otherwise they are treated equally.

We've been married for just over a year. Seems ridiculous he's on the birth certificate, and he has his surname and no more children planned, so not sure it's worth the hassle

We only have the one DS and won't be having more, so the fact that he was born 'out of wedlock' becomes immaterial.

Oops, I had no idea this was a thing!

We've been married almost 3 years and have a 4yo and 11yo

As someone else said, OP, the maximum fine for failing to do it is £2 so not sure I would bother. Makes no difference anyway.

Was shocked to find out that any child born within marriage would have more rights if we didn't re-register our 'bastard' child!

Not the case. Children born in and out of wedlock have equal inheritance rights.