Births, Deaths, Marriages Information - Antigua & Barbuda

High Court of Justice, Civil RegistryRegistrar’s DivisionP. O. Box 163Tel: 462‐3744/0609Fax: 462‐3929Email: hctanu@yahoo.caThe Births, Deaths, Marriages Registry is located at the High Court of Justice, Parliament Drive, St.John’s, Antigua and Barbuda . The Registry maintains the nation’s civil records of births, deaths,marriages and adoptions.The cost, in stamps, i (no cash payable except from overseas requests ) for the certificates are as follows:Certificates UK (Sterling) USA ($) US$ OECS/Caribbean (EC Local (EC)and other $)Birth Certificates 5.00 7.00 10.00 10.00Adoption5.00 7.00 10.00 10.00CertificateDeath certificate 5.00 7.00 10.00 10.00Marriage 10.00 12.00 25.00 25.00Apostille 10.00 15.00 35.00 35.00Add 5.00 of applicable currency for postage and registration for overseas requestsApplication forms for the Certificates are available at the Civil Registry Counter. Applicants visiting theRegistry are asked to complete the applicable forms, submit to the attendant at the Registry and waitfor their request to be completed. The Registry offers a same day service.Overseas applicants can contact the Registrar General at the enclosed address or via email to requestthe required documents. Individuals seeking certificates from overseas are asked to send the requestedsum via International Postal order or Money order made out to the Registrar General. All documentsare returned via registered post unless alternate arrangements are made and paid for by the applicant.Many urgent requests are handled via courier services such as Fed Ex, DHL or LIAT Quickpak forCaribbean requests.The Registry hold records from the 1930s onwards. Earlier records, in the majority, are stored at theNational Archives. Those who are seeking certificates before this period must first contact the Registryfor a request form stamped by the Registry which must be taken to the Archives where the documentwill be extracted from the Archives. Once extracted, the photocopy of the register must be taken backto Registry where an Official certificate will be issued. Overseas requests for documents predating the1930s are handled by the Registry staff who will make the necessary applications to the NationalArchives.

Addition of Father’s name to the Birth’s RegisterThe Father’s name may be added to the Birth’s register by the following step:(1) By both parents attending at the Registry with the valid picture identification and complete therelevant forms and sign as required to have the father’s name added.(2) Upon request of the mother on production of a sworn declaration that the said person is thefather of the child and a statutory declaration by the person acknowledging himself to be thefather of the child.(3) Where a paternity order in respect of the child has been made by the High Court, or a judgmentof paternity has been made by a Magistrates court(4) Where the parents have been married after the registration of the child.The removal of a father’s name can be done by a court order and an affidavit along withpaternity test.Mothers who are married and happen to have a child outside of wedlock are reminded that thechild will be taken to be a child of the spouse or the marriage unless shown otherwise.Where a father dies before his name is added to the records, the mother can make anapplication before a Judge to have the father’s name added. Similarly, where the Mother dies,the Father can add the name by way of an affidavit.The surname of a child is derived from its Birth certificate. Hence where the Mother’s name isthe only name entered in the Birth Certificate the child will automatically carry the Mother’ssurname. Where the Father’s name appears on the birth certificate the child takes the Father’ssurname . Double barreled named are not used as a general rule in Antigua and BarbudaCorrection and AdditionsErrors may be corrected in the register by(a) Entry in the margin without any alteration of the original entry(b) By affidavit evidence made by the person seeking to have the error corrected, or by twocredible persons knowing about the truth of the matter, which explain the nature and factsof the error in the entry. The Registrar may authorise a further entry with a referencetherein to the original entry.Baptismal names may be added at the Registry up to seven (7) days after the child is baptized with thepresentation of the baptismal certificate.The Laws of Antigua and Barbuda allow up to six (6) months after birth or death for the Registration ofBirths and Deaths without an affidavit.iThe Births and Deaths (Registration) Regulations Cap. 53 , vol 10.