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Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997
21Change of name entries in register
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21 Change of name entries in register
(1) This section applies if the registrar-general registers a change of name
for a person whose birth is registered in the ACT or under a
corresponding law.
(2) The registrar-general must—
(i) if the person’s birth is registered in the ACT—
(A) alter the register by changing the person’s name in the
entry relating to the person’s birth; or
(B) if the applicant for registration of the change of name
asks the registrar-general to note the change of name
in the particulars of the person’s birth—note the
change of name in the entry relating to the person’s
birth; or
(ii) if the person’s birth is registered under a corresponding
law—notify the relevant registering authority of the change
of name; and
Note For how documents may be served, see the Legislation Act,
pt 19.5.
(b) include in the register any particulars prescribed by regulation.
(3) Any birth certificate issued by the registrar-general for the person
(a) if the register is altered under subsection (2) (a) (i) (A)—show
the person’s name as changed on the front side of the certificate;
or
(b) if the change of name is noted in the register under
subsection (2) (a) (i) (B)—note the person’s name as changed
on the reverse side of the certificate.
(4) Also, a birth certificate issued by the registrar-general for the person
must not show the person’s former name if—
(a) the person’s name was changed under subsection (2) (a) (i) (A);
and
(b) any of the following people requests, in writing, that the
person’s former name not be shown:
(i) the person;
(ii) if the person is a child—a parent of, or a person with
parental responsibility for, the person;
(iii) a person prescribed by regulation; and
(c) the registrar-general is satisfied that the request is made to
protect a person’s privacy; and
(d) for a request that relates to a child who is at least 14 years old—
the registrar-general is satisfied that the child either consents to
the request or cannot understand the meaning or implications of
the request.
Note Section 27 deals with showing a person’s sex on a birth certificate.