Closed petition Require both parents to be present to register a child's birth

Closed on 10 August 2021

Both parents should be at present to register their child’s birth certificate, whether they are married or not. It should be illegal for one parent to register the child without exceptional circumstances, with evidence to support this.

There are too many lives being destroyed due to parents being denied their names on their children’s birth certificate. Mainly the fathers. We live in the 20th century but too many fathers and some mothers are prevented from gaining parental responsibility due to the ease of a single parent registering a child’s birth. This can cause emotional distress for the parent and later on in life the child’s health and mental well-being. This change would help ensure both parents can have an active role. Only under exceptional circumstances may the names of both parents not be on the birth certificate.