11 June 2018
Column by the Minister of Justice of Ukraine.
What needs to be done after the birth of a child?
Parents are required to register the child’s birth with the civil registry office at the place of residence of one of the parents or at the child’s place of birth no later than one month after the birth.
The application may be filed by either the child’s parents or other individuals. The presence of both parents is required if the parents have different last names.
State registration is carried out simultaneously with the determination of the child’s parentage and the assignment of a first name, last name, and patronymic.
How is the child’s parentage determined?
The child’s descent from the mother is determined based on a document from a healthcare facility certifying the mother’s childbirth.
The child’s paternity is determined based on a marriage certificate if the mother was married to the father at the time of the child’s birth.
If the parents are not married, the child’s paternity is determined based on a written statement by the child’s mother and father acknowledging paternity or by a court decision.
When a child is born to an unmarried mother, and in cases where there is no joint statement from the parents or a corresponding court decision, the father is recorded under the mother’s last name and citizenship, and the father’s first name and patronymic are recorded as indicated by the mother.
What documents are required for birth registration?
Along with the application for state registration of birth (oral or written), the following must be submitted to register the child’s birth:
- the applicant’s passport, if the applicants are not the child’s parents;
- a document confirming the fact of birth—a medical certificate issued by a healthcare facility;
- the parents’ passports or the passport of one of them;
- a document confirming the child’s paternity (a marriage certificate, a joint application by the child’s mother and father, or an application by the mother)
- In the absence of a document from a healthcare facility or a medical advisory commission, the basis for birth registration is a court decision establishing the fact of birth.
How do you decide on the child’s first name, last name, and patronymic?
Upon state registration of a birth, the child is assigned a last name, first name, and patronymic, which identify the individual and distinguish them from others.
The child’s last name is determined by the parents’ last names. If the mother and father have different last names, the child’s last name is determined by mutual agreement. Parents with different last names may give the child a double last name. A dispute between parents regarding the child’s last name may be resolved by a guardianship authority or a court.
A child’s first name is determined by mutual agreement of the parents. The first name of a child born to an unmarried woman is determined by the child’s mother. A child may be given no more than two first names, unless otherwise dictated by the customs of the national minority to which the mother or father belongs. A dispute between the parents regarding the child’s first name may be resolved by a guardianship authority or a court.
The patronymic is derived from the father’s given name. If the father has a double name, the child’s patronymic is derived from one of them. At the parents’ request, the patronymic may also be formed in accordance with national traditions or may not be assigned at all.
If the child’s paternity has not been established, the patronymic is determined based on the name of the person whom the child’s mother has identified as the father.
Where is the service for submitting documents for birth registration available in maternity hospitals?
To create favorable conditions aimed at simplifying citizens’ access to administrative services in all regions of Ukraine, a service is provided for accepting the documents required for state registration of birth and issuing the corresponding certificate directly at maternity hospitals. In total, this service is available at 477 medical facilities. Between 2016 and 2017, 238,166 citizens used this service.
Information about maternity hospitals where you can obtain a birth certificate for your child is available on the official website of the Ministry of Justice.
What additional services can be obtained along with the birth certificate?
At the request of both parents or one of them, documents for registering the newborn’s place of residence may be accepted during the state registration of the child’s birth.
Are there penalties for parents who fail to register their child on time?
Failure by parents to register their child’s birth with the state civil registry authorities in a timely manner without a valid reason results in a fine ranging from one to three non-taxable minimum incomes (from 51 to 153 UAH).