Changes to the law

On 14 June 2023, Queensland Parliament passed the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023. When the new Act commences it will replace our current laws, making changes to many of our application processes and rules.

Timing of changes

New laws do not start immediately after being passed by Parliament. The many changes included in the new Act require time for us and other agencies to get ready. There will be updates to our online services, forms, IT systems, processes, and staff training.

The government has not set the official start date—watch this space. We will update this information when the date has been set.

Provide your details and we will send you an email before the new Act commences.

Changes that are coming

Some of the most significant changes include new rules allowing:

• a person to alter their sex on legal documents to align with their gender identity, including non-binary gender identities
• parents to choose how they identify in their parenting role on their child’s birth certificate (mother, father, parent)
• someone with court-ordered parental responsibility for a child to make applications on the child’s behalf
• all siblings (including half-siblings) to be shown on a child’s birth certificate instead of only full siblings
• de facto partners of the person who passed away to be shown on death certificates.

These changes were informed by thorough and extensive consultation. They are designed to update our services to better recognise trans and gender diverse people and modern families.

Correcting certificates

The new Act may, in some situations, let you apply to correct a current certificate.

For example, a lesbian couple who were required under the current law to register as their child’s mother and parent—instead of both registering as the child’s mothers—will be able to change this. They will be able to apply to correct their child’s birth certificate to show themselves as the child’s mothers.

We are working on a new policy that will provide information about what details can be corrected this way, and how you can apply.