Adding a child to a marriage ?

[HaveToWearHeels]

DD was born 18 months before DH and I got married, he is her father and named on her birth certificate.

Our neighbours are in the same situation, had one child before they married and one after. They were advised by a solicitor to add the first child to the marriage. I think in entailed them going back to the register office and changing something. This ensure both children had the same status.

Can anyone shed any light, surely in this day and age this shouldn't need to be done ?

You are required by law to reregister the birth of your child as you have now married. The fine for not doing so is the grand sum of £1, so it really isn't a big deal if you don't.

I can vaguely recall reading about this situation. Your child has already been legally registered. I think you may have an option to re- register and make the birth legitimate, I think you have 12 months following marriage to do so. I will try and google for you.

Ok I googled re-register birth.

Basically it is to make a child or children legitimate and ensure they are children of your marriage, it is more to do with inheritance than anything else but it will ensure children are treated equally in the eyes of the law.

It is free. The new certificate will replace the old one and will be issued where the birth certificate is ordered. There is no 12 month time limit. The 12 month limit applies to changes of name only.

Thanks Alwayscheerful how old fashioned. As we only have one child and we both have a will, I don't suppose it matters ?.
I am sure the fact she is illegitimate won't bother her too much

thanks prh I shall raid my piggy bank.

Really! I had no idea about this. Dd was 15 months old when we got married. As I am currently abroad, I can't just pop to the registry office. Are there any awful consequences if dh dropped dead tomorrow? Mind you, under Belgian law she gets it all anyway.....

The only consequence is the remote possibility of a £1 fine. Your child became legitimate when you married. That is independent of the requirement to re-register the birth. In any case the law these days treats all children equally regardless of whether or not they are legitimate.

I did this when me and dh got married. Ds was 7 months old and it just meant an appt at the registry office to get ds a birth certificate with my married name on.