Birth certificate change is 'gigantic' for couple

April (left) and Lauren were not able to have both their names on their daughter's birth certificate

A Jersey couple said legal changes to the island's birth certificates are "gigantic" for them.

The law in the island changed on Monday to allow same-sex couples to have both parents' names on the document. Previously only one would be on the certificate, meaning they had fewer legal rights than mixed-sex couples.

This also applied to couples who went through types of fertility treatments or surrogacy.

April and Lauren Fosse-Burch's daughter only has one of their names on her birth certificate and said it was "bittersweet" and "it's been so long" to see the change come into force.

'Bit heartbreaking'

April and Lauren said they were to use the law change to ensure both their names were on their daughter's birth certificate through the legislation allowing retrospective changes.

Lauren said: "It means that we are recognised as a family in the law, which sounds like potentially a very small thing, but is a gigantic thing when you haven't had that luxury."

She added: "When you are desperate to have a baby and you don't have a baby, it physically hurts."

She said it "was a bit heart-breaking" when only one of them could be on their daughters' birth certificate.

April said: "All we can really say is thanks to everyone who's worked on the change... anything that alleviates the struggle of getting pregnant is a great thing for couples."

Deputy Louise Doublet has campaigned for change in the States Assembly

Deputy Louise Doublet campaigned for the change in the law for about six years.

She said: "It's a real milestone moment for Jersey... the States Assembly can be very proud of this package of legislation.

"I think it's one of the biggest pieces of legislation that Jersey has worked on and there has been that tenacity and persistence across the States Assembly where it was approved unanimously in the end."

She said "the law should've changed a lot sooner" and "there has been a huge amount of hardship for the queer community" while waiting for the change.

Superintendent registrar of Jersey Claire Follain welcomed the change

Superintendent Registrar of Jersey Claire Follain has been overseeing the changes in the island with her staff.

She said: "It's been really challenging for us to watch how difficult that's been for parents.

"In recognition of how difficult it's been and how long it's taken, we have waived all the fees for those parents, and I've also waived all the fees for the production of new birth certificates for them."

Ms Follian added: "In Jersey, we decided that we would permit retrospectively those who've been affected to return to us and re-register the birth to recognise that other parent.

"It's something that the UK decided not to, but, for us, it was absolutely critical."

Kaye Nicholson was previously not able to have both parent's surnames on her son's birth certificate

Kaye Nicholson is from the equality charity Liberate Jersey and also has been affected by the previous law in 2016.

She said: "It wasn't allowing my son to have both of his parents on the birth certificate... the wider community didn't know that this was the case.

"It has been a long wait nearly a decade for me personally and it's a relief to see this changed."

The government said the reforms recognised and supported modern family structures.