Registering birth if father is non-British & is overseas

[emilyoval]

Hello,

I'm expecting a baby, EDD 6th March! Excuse excess use of capitals in message below but I've just copied & pasted from a pdf document & too tired/pregnant to retype.

The father of my baby is from Zambia & will not be coming to the birth nor will he be in the country within 42 days (by which time I have to have registered the birth). I understand that he has to complete the STATUTORY DECLARATION OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PARENTAGE document, which I would have to take with me so that his name is on the birth certificate. But he has to complete this in front of a 'JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, MAGISTRATE,
COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS, PRACTISING SOLICITOR, NOTARY PUBLIC, LICENSED CONVEYANCER,
AUTHORISED ADVOCATE OR AUTHORISED LITIGATOR'

My question is, can the justice of peace, magistrate or whatever be in Zambia? I can't find anything online about how to register the father on the birth certificate if he is out of the country!

Thanks for your help,
Emily

I think you answer is that yes, he can get it done in zambia, but he will need to get the document verified to be of value internationally. I have forgtten the technical term for this, you have to get it done for birth certificates and wedding certificates etc to use them overseas.

Hopefully there will be a lawyer along who knows it better than I do.

Notarised?

no, it isn't notarised (I don't think)
That is just a verification.
The one I am thinking of is to do with international documents

Can he not just be added later ? I thought that was possible.

apostille

(I think)

You can register the birth without him and re register at a later date when he is in the country. Totally straightforward.

You can also reregister at a later date. If you go to register alone they ask you if you want the forms for the father to be added later on.

Yes, it's an Apostille stamp, available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. You don't actually say in your OP if you're married to the father of the baby or not. If you are, he doesn't need to attend the appointment with you or complete a statutory declaration.