Births, deaths and ceremonies Corrections

When registering a birth, death marriage or civil partnership you will be asked to check that the information has all been recorded correctly by the Registrar before you sign the register confirming it to be accurate. Once signed a legal record is created that cannot be changed other than by the legal correction process.  If there is something incorrect on a birth, death or marriage certificate you can apply for a correction. Corrections are granted by the General Register Office and there is a fee of £83 or £99 depending on the type of correction. Replacement certificates are £12.50 each. You can contact us on 0345 678 9016 or email registrar@shropshire.gov.uk and we'll be able advise on the exact fee depending on the type of correction.

How do I apply for a correction?

You'll need to print off the relevant application form and complete it, having first read the accompanying guidance notes. These can be downloaded from the GOV.UK website.

Once you have completed the form bring the application into the registrar office at Shirehall with your supporting evidence and we will photocopy and certify these to send to the General Register Office for consideration. The fee will be taken at this point.

If the correction is granted, you may have to attend an appointment at the register office for the correction to be applied. These corrections will appear as a marginal note on the entry. New certificate are £12.50 each and may be purchased once the originals have been returned.

Why do I have to apply for a correction instead of just getting it changed there and then on the certificate?

For counter fraud purposes, it is the law that evidence must be produced to show the correct information before the incorrect information can be made correct. A department of the General Register Office, itself under His Majesty's Passport Office, is tasked with reviewing evidence and authorising or rejecting applications for correction.

Why do I have to pay for a correction?

At the time of completing the registration, the person who came to register signed to say that all the details in the registration were correct. The statutory fee (set in law) associated with corrections aims to cover the costs associated with processing corrections.

Can I ask for the correction to be carried out without us attending in person?

For corrections to birth and death registrations, yes. You can send the completed correction application form with original supporting documents directly to the Registrar General. Make sure that on the application form, you select the option that you are happy for the correction to be carried out in your absence.

What evidence do I need to provide?

This will depend on what information is incorrect. Please see the guidance notes accompanying the relevant correction application forms for full guidance, or contact us at registrars@shropshire.gov.uk.

Who can apply for the correction?

Births: The mother and/or father.

Deaths: A relative of the deceased, someone who was present at the death, or the person who registered the death.

Marriages: The couple who were married.

What does the certificate look like when the correction has been completed?

The incorrect information will still show on the certificate, however a note will be added at the end of the certificate to state that you have corrected the incorrect information to the correct information. This is the standard way that corrections are applied to registrations and certificates in England and Wales; essentially it leaves a clear audit trail of what has been changed.