Birth certificates for co-parents and chosen parenting titles

A co-parent is generally a person who is recognised as a parent of a child born of a fertilisation procedure.

If your child has a co-parent, you can choose how that parent is displayed on your child's birth certificate.

A co-parent can apply to be displayed as:

• Mother
• Father
• Parent
• Co-parent

Who can apply

Both parents must apply together and provide consent to the chosen parenting title.

If the child is 18 years or older, they must also provide consent.

If only one parent applies, information must be provided as to why the other parent can’t provide consent.

If the other parent objects to the application, it will not be approved.

What happens after approval

Once approved, the chosen parenting title will appear on all future birth certificates issued for that child.

A parenting title can only be applied once. Any changes need to be approved by the Registrar.

The chosen parenting title will appear on the child's birth certificate. The co-parent will continue to be recorded as ‘co-parent’ in the Birth Register.

How to apply for a parenting title

A parenting title can be applied when:

• registering a birth
• applying for a birth certificate online.

You can't apply for a certificate over the phone.

Other ways to apply

Related information

On this site

• Apply for a birth certificate
• Register a birth
• Commemorative certificates

Other websites

• Donor conception - Consumer and Business Services
• Current processing times - Consumer and Business Services