WHAT IS FORM GRO 185 USED FOR?

Form GRO 185 is the form used to re-register the birth of a child but this time add the details of the child’s biological (natural) father. Form GRO 185 is only used if the mother and father were not married when the child was born and have not married since or entered into a civil partnership.

This new birth certificate will replace the original birth certificate. The original birth certificate should not have any details of a father on it.

ARE THERE ANY GOVERNMENT OR OUR OWN L.I.P HELP GUIDES OR WRITE UPS TO HELP YOU COMPLETE FORM GRO 185?

1) There are no government guides available at the moment to help you complete this form. 

2) You can read our help guide for parental responsibility because once you add the biological fathers name to the birth certificate he will acquire parental responsibility for the child.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR WHAT IS LEGAL PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

3) You can contact www.gov.uk/gro for help.

4) You can contact the general register office for help on 0300 123 1837 (Mon-Fri 9-5pm). You can also send an email to GROCasework@gro.uk

WHAT IS THE FEE TO SEND FORM GRO 185 TO THE COURT AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT?

There is no fee to send this form to HM passport office. However you will need to purchase the birth certificate(s) issued.

HOW TO COMPLETE FORM GRO 185 AND WHERE TO SEND IT

• NOTE 1 – If you are completing and sending form GRO 185 to the court then you are known as the petitioner or applicant. 
• NOTE 2 – You can download form GRO 185, print it and then complete it by black pen.
• NOTE 3 – If you find there is not enough space to complete your answers on your form GRO 185 then please use additional sheets of paper to continue and attach them to your form. Please write your name, address, and question number on the top of your additional sheets of paper. 
• NOTE 4 – Please keep a copy of your form GRO 185 and any attachments for yourself outside of the ones you send to the general register office. 
• NOTE 5 – Please note that if you need to send any birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil partnership or any other certificate with your form GRO 185 it must be a certified copy. A photocopy will not be accepted. Please read section 13 on page 4 to understand what a certified copy is.
• Form GRO 185 is 4 pages long.
• Section 1 on page 1 will offer you 5 options and you will need to tick one of them
  • If both parents are going to the register office together then you must tick this box and complete sections 2 – 7 and read section 8.
  • If the father will go to the register office alone because the mother is unable to go, then sections 2 – 7 must be completed and section 8 read.
  • If the father is going to the register office but the mother is not co-operating then you must read section 12 and complete section 2 – 7 and 13.
  • If the mother will be going to the register office alone because the father is unable to go you will need to complete sections 2 – 7 and read section 8.
  • If the mother is going to the register office but the father is not co-operating then please read section 12 and complete sections 2 – 7 and 13.
• Section 2 will ask you to include a certified copy of the original birth certificate. You must tick the ‘yes’ box that you are attaching the birth certificate. Any original documentation you send will nit be returned to you so please send a certified copy.  
• Section 3 will ask you for information needed for the new birth certificate.
  • Part A will ask you to write your child’s surname as it appears on the original birth certificate.
  • You will be asked to write the surname you would like your child to be known as now. This can be the same as on the original birth certificate, the mothers surname, the natural fathers surname, a combination of both the parents surnames. Both parents have to agree. If your child is 16 years and over they must provide their written consent to change their surname. 
  • You will next be asked to write the forename of the child.
  • Part B will ask you for the biological (natural) fathers surname and forename. 
  • Part C will ask you for the mothers surname and forename. If the name has changed from the original birth certificate then you should explain why and attach evidence (e.g. deed poll).
• Section 4 on page 2 will ask you if the child’s mother and biological (natural) father have ever been married to each other or been or are in a civil partnership.  If this is the case you must attach a certified copy of the marriage or civil partnership certificate. If you are both divorced/dissolution of a civil partnership then you must also attach a certified copy of this certificate.
• Section 5 will ask you a series of questions to which you must tick the ‘yes’ box or ‘no’ box.
  • Question 1 – Is there an existing court order that states the child’s father. If there has been you must attach a certified copy of the court order.
  • Question 2 – Is there a court order that states the child’s surname cannot be changed. If there is you must attach a certified copy of the court order.
  • Question 3 – Is there a parental responsibility agreement between both parents? If there is you will need to attach a certified copy to your form.
  • Question 4 – You will now be asked if the child has been adopted?
  • Question 5 – Will ask if the child is a ward of court?
  • Question 6 – Will ask if the child is a looked after child (cared for by a local authority guardian). If this is the case you will need write down the details of the child’s social worker in the spaces provided.
• Section 6 – Here you will be asked to write down the full contact details of the mother and biological (natural) father. 
• Section 7 – You both will now be asked to sign and date a declaration. If the child whose surname is to be changed is 16 years and over they must also sign and date the declaration.
• Section 8 will direct you to where to send your application form.
  • If your answer to sections 4 and 5 is ‘no’ and you have said in section 1 that you both can go together to a register office, then your application can be dealt with by your local register office. You both should contact them and make an appointment or follow the advice they give you.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBISTE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL REGISTER OFFICE  

• • If your answer to sections 4 and 5 is ‘no’ and you have said in section 1 that only one of you is able to go to the register office, then your application must be sent to the general register office. Their address is GRO CASEWORK TEAM, PO BOX 476, SOUTHPORT, PR8 2WJ or email GROCasework@gro.gov.uk. The parent who is unable to go to the register office must download a statutory declaration of acknowledgment of parentage (FORM 16). Please also complete section 13 of your form GRO 185.

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM 16

• •  If your answer to sections 4 and 5 is ‘yes’ and in section 1 you have said you both can go together to the register office, then you must send your application to the general register office. Their address is GRO CASEWORK TEAM, PO BOX 476, SOUTHPORT, PR8 2WJ or email GROCasework@gro.gov.uk. Please also complete section 13 of your form GRO 185.
  • If none if the above apply then please read section 12 of form GRO 185. Please contact the general register office on the contact details given above and take their advice.
• Section 13 will ask you to write the name o your borough, town or city for the register office you wish to go to. Complete this section if you have been asked to.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND FORM GRO 185/DOWNLOAD THIS FORM?

Please click on the link below to access form GRO 185 from the government website. 

LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FORM GRO 185

WHEN WAS FORM GRO 185 FIRST PUBLISHED AND LAST UPDATED?

Form GRO 185 was first published by the government (HM Passport Office) on 01-04-2013 and last updated on 02-12-2019.