Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT 1997 - SECT 9

    (1)     A person has the birth of a child registered under this Act by signing and lodging with the registrar-general a birth registration statement that sets out the particulars that the registrar-general requires for the purpose of registering the birth.

    (2)     However, the registrar-general may accept a birth registration statement—

        (a)     that is signed by only 1 of the parents, if satisfied that—

              (i)     it is not practicable to obtain the signature of the other parent; or

              (ii)     the parent who signed is the birth parent of a stillborn child, who has decided under section 8 (2) to register the birth of the child; or

        (b)     that does not set out particulars required under subsection (1), if satisfied that it is not practicable to obtain the missing particulars.

    (3)     If the registrar-general accepts a birth registration statement for a child under subsection (2), a person's obligation to have the child's birth registered under this Act is taken to be discharged.

    (4)     The registrar-general must not accept a birth registration statement from a person who is not responsible for having a child's birth registered under this Act unless the registrar-general is satisfied that—

        (a)     the person lodging the statement has knowledge of the particulars set out in the statement; and

        (b)     neither of the child's parents is able or likely to lodge a birth registration statement.

    (5)     The registrar-general must not refuse to accept a birth registration statement only because it is not lodged within 6 months after the day of the birth.