Halliwells’ Sharon Smith says enforced registering of both parents is overdue

TWO weeks ago, Parliament approved the compulsory registration of both parents on a birth certificate.

Once the law is in force, unmarried mothers will have to name the father, unless they claim “exceptional circumstances”. These include where they genuinely do not know the identity of the father, or they have been the victim of abuse.

To register a birth now, an appointment must be made at the registrar. But registration could be made easier with births being registered at hospitals and in community centres. Fathers who do not attend to register with the mother will be invited to register by post. If they dispute paternity, then a DNA test can be carried out. Fathers who do not co-operate could be fined.

But this will be too late for those mothers who have wanted to name the father but have been unable to do so because the father will not co-operate.

When the law comes into effect, there should be fewer “father unknown” birth certificates, which will reduce the stigma.

All fathers will then be named on birth certificates, so all fathers will have parental responsibility. This then places unmarried fathers in the same position as married fathers, by giving them the same automatic recognition. A mark of the law catching up with the changes in society.