WHEN WAS THE last time you looked at your birth, marriage or a relative's death certificate?
Since receiving your certified copy, have you taken the time to read it carefully? It is important that you read your certificate to ensure that all of the information appearing on the document is accurate. This information includes the spelling of names, the age of parents, place and date of birth/death.
CHECK INFORMATION
The Registrar General's department advises individuals registering births or deaths, to carefully check the information presented on the birth or death registration form before signing. If the individual effecting the registration does not check the document carefully before signing, then there is a possibility that an error may be made on the document.
The birth/death registration form is the source document from which birth/death certificates are produced. If an error is made on the birth/death registration form, it can only be corrected by a record updating activity known as correction of error. Correction of error corrects errors of fact such as incorrect information relating to ages, spelling of names and occupations on certificates.
CORRECTION OF ERROR
It is important to remember that not all errors may be amended by a correction of error. In instances when there is not enough evidence to support a correction, a deed poll may be advised.
When inspecting your certificate, if you notice an error on the document, do not panic! Simply take it to the Registrar General's department, where the birth records used to produce the certificate will be examined. These birth records are the original records that were signed at the time of registration. The RGD usually takes seven to 10 working days to inspect the records. If after that time it is noticed that the error made was clerical, then the certificates will be corrected at no extra cost to the customer.
In the case where the record reflects the error, then this is treated as an error of fact, which means an error made at the time of registration. The RGD will then issue a letter to the customer advising of a correction of error. The letter is usually accompanied by a set a forms to effect the correction.
HOW TO DO A CORRECTION OF ERROR
Individuals doing a correction of error must first obtain a correction of error application form from any of the RGD's eight offices across the island. The application form includes one joint statutory declaration, which must be signed by two persons. The statutory declaration may be completed by the person whose name or particulars is being corrected, a parent or relative having knowledge of the birth and or anyone at least 10 years older having knowledge of the birth.
Please note that the declaration must be signed in the presence of a Justice of the Peace. To complete the procedure, you are required to present a baptismal or christening record, school record signed by the current principal of first primary or preparatory school attended, list of mother's children in order of birth, place and date of birth for each.
The completed forms should be submitted to the Registrar General's Department where the forms will be checked. If the forms are completed correctly then the parents will pay the appropriate fees. They then will be given an appointment date for an interview at the RGD.
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
In order for the procedure to be completed quickly and with ease, you are advised to take along one of your declarants to the interview. You must also take along supporting documents such as; immunisation cards, marriage certificates, birth record of the person whose particulars is being corrected and original baptismal record. Finally, give the interviewer as much information as possible which will help him or her to verify that an error of fact had indeed been made.
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