Changing a record or certificate

Correcting a registration

Before continuing, please be aware that we can only consider for corrections to events that occurred in Tower Hamlets.

Please complete the relevant application form:

Correcting a birth certificate

Please follow the official guidance on how to correct a birth certificate.

Once you’ve read the guidance, please complete the birth entry correction application form.

Correcting a death certificate

Please follow the official guidance on how to correct a death certificate.

Once you’ve read the guidance, please complete the death entry correction application form.

Correcting a marriage/civil partnership certificate

Please follow the official guidance on how to correct a marriage certificate.

Once you’ve read the guidance, please complete the marriage certificate corrections application form.

You will need to bring your completed form to Tower Hamlets Register Office, with original documentation, to have the items scanned and make an appointment for your application to be considered.

There is a consideration fee to correct a registration. Please check our fees page for more information.

The consideration fee is payable at the time of your appointment by card. We do not accept cash or cheque payments at Tower Hamlets Register Office.

Re-registration of a birth

Please complete the following relevant form. Please note that we can only re-register births that occurred in Tower Hamlets. Unregistered births will always be our priority so please expect a wait of up to 3 months for re-registration appointments. If possible, we request that the mother and father attend together at the initial registration to reduce your chance of a delay.

• Form for a Re-Registration to add a natural father. 
• Form for a Re-Registration after parent's marriage/Civil Partnership.

You will need to bring in your completed form to Tower Hamlets Register Office to check, who will then be able to book an appointment for you.

Please note that the latest forms do not have a space for the child’s date and place of birth so please ensure you provide a copy of the original birth certificate.

Currently there is no administrative fee; however you will need to purchase a new certificate. More information may be found on our fees page.

Name change after registration of a birth

If you wish to change baby’s forename(s), this can be done within the first 12 months of registering the birth. The new birth entry and certificate will contain both the original name in space 2, and the new name in space 17. Please note this process cannot be used to change your child’s surname.

There is a fee for this change. More information may be found on our fees page. You will need to come into the office to collect and fill in a form and make a payment for the change. New certificates can then be ordered via our portal once completed.

We are able to do this for all births that occurred in Tower Hamlets within 12 months of the registration. 

Please visit the government website for further advice on changing a child's name after 12 moths of the registration.