Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care

Make it a legal requirement that dads are automatically on a birth certificate

Closed 63 signatures

What the petition asks

I want it to become a legal requirement that fathers are automatically named on birth certificates.
This would mean fathers are recognised as having parental responsibility.

Mothers can refuse to list a father on the birth certificate, or put the wrong father on the birth certificate, preventing a father from being recognised.

This needs to change. Fathers deserve to have the rights to help grow, protect and love their own child.

Timeline

3 Aug 2020 Petition opened for signatures
3 Feb 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 63
Status Closed
Department Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Social Care
Opened 3 Aug 2020
Closed 3 Feb 2021

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.