I care for my late partner's child. How can I get a replacement birth certificate?

The long answer

You need to go to your nearest Home Affairs office to apply for a replacement birth certificate for the child, and you will need to submit the following documents:

• A certified copy of your fiancé’s death certificate (which will have her ID number on it)

• A certified copy of your own ID

• A sworn affidavit about your relationship with the child’s mother, explaining that you have been looking after the child since his mother’s death, and that you have lost his birth certificate. 

(You must get a Form B1-154 (DHA 154) from Home Affairs for the affidavit and complete it in black ink.) 

You will need to pay a R75 fee for the re-issue of the birth certificate, which will take about six to eight weeks. 

If you do not have your fiancé’s death certificate, you can get a copy from the Master’s Office. The death certificate is issued by Home Affairs after a death has been registered at the Master’s Office. As you probably know, a death should be reported to the Master’s office within 14 days. The death certificate is the official proof of death.

There are Master’s Offices in all the provinces, and you can also contact the Master’s Office through their helpline at 012 406 4805.

If you find you need further help, you could ask The Black Sash, which gives free paralegal advice. These are their contact details:

• The Black Sash

email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Tel (national office): 021 686 6952

Helpline: 072 66 33 73, 072 633 3739 or 063 610 1865

Wishing you the best,
Athalie