Remove a parent from a birth certificate

You can apply to remove a parent from a birth certificate if the parent was recorded incorrectly.

We assess all corrections before making them.

Refer to the 'Evidence required' tab for the evidence you’ll need to provide to:

Remove the father's name (if incorrect)
Remove the birth parent's female partner

When we remove a parent from a child’s birth certificate, we will notify the affected parties. Refer to Notifying the parents below.

If you want to add the name of a parent, visit add a parent on a birth certificate.

Apply to correct a birth record (External link)

What we need from you

We'll ask you for the following:

1. Details of the person on the certificate

As a minimum, we ask for:

Given name
Family name
Date of birth
Place of birth.

2. The original birth certificate

We ask you to return the original certificate before we can issue a corrected version.

If you return the original certificate

Post the original certificate to our mailing address. Please include your order number.

Once we’ve corrected the record, we’ll send you a new certificate free of charge.

If you can't return the original

You’ll need to provide a Statutory Declaration (External link) explaining why. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.

Once we've corrected the record, you'll need to apply for a new birth certificate. There is a fee for the new certificate.

We recommend that you don’t order a new certificate until we’ve corrected the record.

3. Evidence to support the correction

The evidence we ask for depends on the circumstances for removing the parent. Check the 'evidence required' tab.

For documents in a language other than English, provide an English translation by a qualified translator. Learn more about translated documents.

4. Proof of your identity

Acceptable documents

The easiest way to prove your identity is with your driver licence (if it confirms your residential address) and your passport.

There are other ways to prove your identity.

If you send us documents, they must be certified copies.

Don’t send original identity documents by mail

Don’t send uncertified copies – we can’t accept them.

Learn more about how to prove your identity.

Documents must be current (not expired). If you can’t provide current photo identification, please contact us.

Protecting your safety

When accessing BDM services, our priority is protecting you and your family’s safety. Our processes take this into account.

We can support you if you have experienced family violence.

If you tell us that you have concerns for your safety, we can protect your information from the other parent.

For example, we don’t have to tell the other parent your address or contact details without your consent.

We may ask you to provide some documents to support your concerns.

Learn more about Protecting your safety at BDM.

Evidence required

Remove the father's name (if incorrect)

You can apply to remove the name of the father incorrectly named as the father.

BDM will waive the application fee in this instance.

You’ll need to attach evidence that the father named on the certificate isn't the child's biological father. This may be:

DNA-based parentage test (paternity test) approved by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) (External link)
Court order declaring the identity of the child's father.
Court order declaring that the registered father is not the father.

BDM can accept a court order from:

Any Victorian state court
Another court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).

Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.

Remove the birth parent’s female partner

To remove the birth parent’s female partner from your child’s birth record, you must provide a court order.

We can accept a court order from:

Any Victorian state court
Another court (including a court of another State or the Commonwealth).

Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.

Timeframes and delivery

How long will it take?

Check our certificate turnaround times.

If it's urgent, apply online then contact us.

Delivery of multiple certificates

We send legal certificates by express post, for security.

For commemorative certificates, you may only choose standard post. This is because they're not official identity documents. Legal and commemorative certificates will arrive separately.

Fees and payment

The fees are non-refundable except as set out on our Refunds page.

Fees

Application fee: $84.60.

Certificate fees

Replacement certificate fees
Whereabouts of original certificate	Comments	Price
If you return the original birth certificate	No fee for certificate. (There may be a postage and handling fee for the new certificate. Check Postage, below.)	$0.00
If you do not return the original birth certificate	The price of a legal birth certificate applies	$55.80

Postage fees are additional.

Postage fees

Postage within Australia

Postage methods and prices, within Australia
Type of certificate	Postage and handling method	Price
Legal certificate	Express post	$10.20

Postage outside Australia

Postage methods and prices, outside Australia
Type of certificate	Postage and handling method	Price
Legal certificate	International express	$55.50

See Australia Post (External link) for product details

Check the Payment methods we accept