Version No. 044
Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996
No. 43 of 1996
Version incorporating amendments as at
9 September 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purpose
2Commencement
3Objects of Act
4Definitions
Part 2—Administration
Division 1—The Registrar
5Registrar
6Registrar's general functions
7Registrar's staff
8Delegation
Division 2—Execution of documents
9The Registrar's seal
10Execution of documents
Division 3—Reciprocal administrative arrangements
11Reciprocal administrative arrangements
Part 3—Registration of births
Division 1—Notification of births
12Notification of births
Division 2—Registration of births
13Cases in which registration of birth is required or authorised
14How to have the birth of a child registered
15Responsibility to have a birth registered
16Registration of parentage details
17Addition of details after birth registration
17AAddition of details after birth registration—registration of partner
17BBirth registration of child conceived by a treatment procedure
18Obligation to have birth registered
19Registration
19ASurrogate birth registration—substitute parentage orders
19BSurrogate birth registration—corresponding surrogacy parentage orders
Division 3—Court orders for registration of birth
20Court may order registration of birth
Division 4—Perinatal death
21Registrar may forward medical certificates
Division 5—Child's name
22Name of child
23Dispute about child's name
Part 4—Change of name
24Change of name by registration
25Application to register change of adult's name
26Application to register change of child's name
27Child's consent to change of name
28Registration of change of name
29Entries to be made in the Register
29ARegistrar to notify Chief Commissioner of Police of change of name of certain sex offenders
30Change of name may still be established by repute or usage
Part 4A—Acknowledgement of sex
Division 1—Persons born in Victoria
30AApplication to alter record of sex in person's birth registration
30BApplication to alter record of sex in child's birth registration
30BAApplication made by one parent or guardian to alter record of sex in child's birth registration
30BBCourt order approving alteration of record of sex in child's birth registration
30CAlteration of Register
30DIssue of new birth certificate
Division 2—Victorian residents born elsewhere
30EApplication for document acknowledging name and sex
30EAApplication for document acknowledging child's name and sex
30EBApplication made by one parent or guardian for document acknowledging child's name and sex
30ECCourt order for issue of document acknowledging child's name and sex
30FIssue of document acknowledging name and sex
30FANotification to registering authority of issuing of document acknowledging name and sex
Division 2A—Acknowledgement of sex applications—detainees, prisoners, prisoners on parole, offenders and registrable offenders
30FBAcknowledgement of sex application accompanied by approval
30FCDetermination of acknowledgement of sex application
30FDNotification that acknowledgement of sex application not accompanied by approval
Division 3—Other matters
30GEffect of alteration of Register, issuing of documents acknowledging name and sex and interstate recognition certificates
30HRe-issue of interstate birth certificates
30IRegistrar to notify Chief Commissioner of Police
30JRegistrar to disclose alterations of record of sex or issuing of document acknowledging name and sex
30KRegistrar to disclose alterations to record of sex on request of Secretary
Part 5—Registration of marriages
31Cases in which registration of marriage is required
32How to have marriage registered
33Registration of marriage
Part 6—Registration of deaths
Division 1—Cases where registration of death…