The procedure you’ll need to follow depends on the process by which the child was conceived.
We assess all corrections before making them.
Donor treatment provided by an Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) clinic
Put down both your name and the birth parent’s name when you register your child's birth.
We can only register you as the child’s parent if you:
- Consented to the donor treatment at the ART clinic; or
- Attach a court order declaring you to be the child’s parent. The court order may be from the Supreme Court or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
If you used a Victorian ART clinic, you don’t need to provide evidence of your consent. The Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) provides that to us.
You must register your child’s birth within 60 days of your child being born.
Learn more about how to digitise and upload hard copy documents.
Donor treatment not provided by an ART clinic (e.g self-insemination)
For further information, go to Self-insemination.
Add birth parent’s female partner after the birth has been registered
For further information, go to Add a parent to a birth certificate.
Protecting your safety
When accessing BDM services, our priority is protecting you and your family’s safety. Our processes take this into account.
We can support you if you have experienced family violence.
If you tell us that you have concerns for your safety, we can protect your information from the other parent.
For example, we don’t have to tell the other parent your address or contact details without your consent.
We may ask you to provide some documents to support your concerns.
Learn more about Protecting your safety at BDM.
Notifying the parents
When we add a parent to a child’s birth certificate, we will notify the affected parties. This means any parent on the corrected birth certificate, including the parent added.
When accessing BDM services, our priority is protecting you and your family’s safety. Our processes take this into account. Please tell us if you have concerns for your safety so that we can support you.
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