I have TWO Birth Certificates ...

[Relsearcher]

Hi!  I hope someone can help ... I was born in 1970 in London to unmarried parents.  I have my birth cert for 1970.  My parents got married in 1975 in London and my birth, by law, was re-registered in early 1976 in London.  I have a second birth cert for 1976 (obviously with all the 1970 info on it!).  My query is which of the two certificates should I use when asked to provide my birth certificate for official reasons - or should I provide both?  Many thanks, Nina

[LizzieW]

Is the 2nd certificate definitely a birth certificate or an adoption certificate?  I didn't think GRO provided two birth certificates.

One of our sons was adopted and although he hasn't got it, his original birth certificate is available on line - we know his previous surname.  His problem has been that some employment agencies in particular didn't want to accept his adoption certificate as proof of who he is.

Modified - I did originally suggest you used whichever you were more comfortable producing, but then it occured to me that perhaps they weren't both birth certificates.

[Rosinish]

Both are legal but as Lizzie says, which ever you're comfortable with on production but you don't need both.

Annie

[Relsearcher]

Hi Lizzie & Rosinish - yes, they are definitely both GRO birth certificates!  My preference is to produce the first one issued in 1970 but it has an added line at the bottom 'Re-registered under Section 14 of the Births & Deaths Registration Act 1953 on *date* 1976' and I can see that causing issues - then if I produce just the second one dated 1976 that will lead to questions about the first certificate, so not sure what to do!!! 

[Rosinish]

Take both along, show the one you prefer & see what they say but you'll have the 2nd as confirmation.

Can you not show your passport &/or driving licence instead?

Annie

[Rosinish]

One of our sons was adopted and although he hasn't got it, his original birth certificate is available on line - we know his previous surname.  His problem has been that some employment agencies in particular didn't want to accept his adoption certificate as proof of who he is.

Lizzie,

That's shocking to say the least as many adoptees don't know their birth names, don't know how to go about finding out nor do they want to know.

Their adoption cert. is their 'legal' birth cert.

Annie

[LizzieW]

Annie - I think it's ignorance more than anything.  However, he's now been working for the same agency for years now and always in work, even all through the pandemic.

[LizzieW]

Hi Lizzie & Rosinish - yes, they are definitely both GRO birth certificates!  My preference is to produce the first one issued in 1970 but it has an added line at the bottom 'Re-registered under Section 14 of the Births & Deaths Registration Act 1953 on *date* 1976' and I can see that causing issues - then if I produce just the second one dated 1976 that will lead to questions about the first certificate, so not sure what to do!!! 

I guess your dad's name is on your original birth certificate (or testified that he was your father if his name wasn't on your original birth certificate).  I've never heard of people having been issued with 2 birth certificates before.  Normally if a single woman gives birth and then later on marries someone other than the father, the new father adopts the child/children. 

[Rosinish]

I'm unsure of the 'adoption' process etc. for a child registered without their legitimate father being present but I know someone who had a child registered without the father being present & the birth was re-registered to include the father's name although they never married but went on to have 3 other children & it was after those other 3 were born the 1st was re-registered.

This was in Scotland.

Annie