PRINCIPLE  

It is mandatory to declare each child’s birth.

Attention:  for parents who are not married, declaring a birth is not the same as parental recognition, except for the mother if she is named on the child’s birth certificate.  Therefore, to establish a filiation, a procedure of voluntary recognition must be carried out.

TIME LIMIT 

The birth must be declared with 3 days following birth.  If the child is born on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday this time limit is moved to the following Monday. A birth that is not declared within this time limit, cannot be entered in the register except by showing a judgment given by the Court House where the child was born.

PROCEDURE  

The birth is declared by the father, or in his absence, by the doctor, midwife or any other person who was present at birth.

RECOGNITION   

When the parents are not married, the child’s filiation is established differently with regard to the mother and father.

The maternal filiation is automatically established when the mother’s name is marked on the birth certificate.  On the other hand, to establish his paternity, the father must recognize the child (before birth, when the birth is declared which means 5 days following the birth or after the child’s birth).

This recognition can be done in any City Hall upon presentation of:   

- proof of identity   

- and proof of accommodation (or of residence) dated within the last 3 months.