birth certificates and title to the NAME thereon

Dear Mr King,

Thank you for your recent query concerning the above. I hope you find the
following information of help.

The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 is the relevant legislation
that covers the registration of births in England and Wales. Under the
provisions of that Act, all births should be registered within 42 days,
and they are recorded in the register of the district in which the birth
occurred. These registers are provided by the Registrar General, who is
also tasked to receive copies of each register entry in order to establish
and maintain a record for the whole of England and Wales of the
registrations that are made. The registers themselves are the property of
the Registrar General because they are part of the process of compiling
the national record.

When a birth is registered, the person giving information for the
registration is asked in what name(s) it is intended to bring the child
up. This is recorded in the register. The entry is signed as being true at
the time at which it is made. The entry is not a "through life record" -
that is, it is meant as a record of what was true at the time of the
registration, and not a record that will necessarily reflect, say, changes
in name made in later years.

A birth certificate is a certified copy of the register entry. It simply
reflects the contents of the entry. It is usually used as evidence to
support verification of age, identity or name. The certified copy is the
property of the person to whom it is issued, but of course should only
reflect the details copied from the register.

In summary, the birth register entry is a "snapshot" that records the name
given at registration. There is no "ownership" or "title" to that name,
but the register entry will record that name and it will be reflected on
any certificate issued.

With best wishes,

Selwyn Hughes
Communications Manager
Identity and Passport Service | General Register Office | Communications
and Business Support | Room 208 Smedley Hydro | Trafalgar Road | Southport
| PR8 2HH

T: 0151 471 4242 | M: 07724 108 566 | E: [email address]
To find out more about the General Register Office, visit
[1]www.direct.gov.uk/gro

Subject: Freedom of Information request GQ - birth certificates and title
to the NAME thereon

Dear Sir or Madam,
There has been much discussion on various websites concerning birth
certificates, their purpose, and who owns or holds title to the
NAME on the birth certificate.
Why is the original birth certificate government property?
Who owns or holds title to the NAME on the birth certificate?
And what is the purpose of a birth certificate?

Yours faithfully,

Alex:King (as is commonly called)

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