Updating the family booklet
Verified 16 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You wonder when you need to update your family record book (change in your marital status, marriage, separation, birth, divorce,...) and under what time frame? We'll give you the information you need.
The approach is free. It must be done in the town hall so that the registrar fills in your booklet, the date, the sign and puts the stamp of the town hall.
Infographie - When to update the family booklet?
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You must update your family record book if your family status or marital status changes.
Change in family situation:
- You're getting married
- You're getting divorced
- You're changing your marital regime
- You're separating
- A new child is born (married or unmarried)
- You're adopting a child
- You are a father and recognize a child who is already registered on his mother's family record book
- You obtain, lose or regain French nationality
- There is one death of a person listed on the booklet: spouse, parent, child
Change of civil status:
- You're changing your name
- You change your first name
- You change sex (gender)
Please note: the procedure is free of charge. You must travel to the city hall as soon as possible.
How do I go about it?
In case of a change of the names or forenames of a person whose act appears on the booklet, a second booklet can be requested from your city hall in exchange for the previous one.
To do this, you must surrender on-site with your identity card and the court decision justifying the change(s).
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
How do I go about it?
A new family register may be issued in the event of a change in the first name(s) of a spouse or parent, at the same time as the application for a change in the sex in the civil register.
However, you will have to make an explicit request, by going to the city hall with your identity card and the court decision(s) justifying these changes.
If you are married or past and/or have children, the spouse, Civil partnership partner, adult child (or his or her legal representatives, if he or she is a minor) must have given their consent the updating of the acts concerning them in the family register. Such consent shall be obtained either:
- or, when sending your file to the judge, in writing in the form of testimony,
- or, at the hearing organized by the judge, to hear you and the persons concerned.
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
Information on the acquisition, loss of French nationality or reintegration into this nationality can be entered on the family booklet, at your request.
In the event of loss of French nationality, and this was mentioned on the booklet, it is obligatory to request the updating of the booklet.
How do I go about it?
Birth in France
You must go to the town hall of the child's place of birth with your identity card and birth certificate.
To facilitate your steps, you can go, with your proof, to the town hall of your home. The Commission may be responsible for forwarding the booklet to the authorities concerned.
Birth abroad
You must contact the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The request must be obligatory addressed by post on free paper.
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
The extract of the parents' marriage certificate is entered in the family record book which had been issued at the birth of their first child.
Approach
Marriage in France
If you did not have a child before your marriage, your family record book will be given to you on the day of your marriage.
Marriage abroad
You must contact the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The request must be obligatory addressed by post on free paper.
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
Married parents who have changed their marriage contract called matrimonial regime (community limited to the acquired, universal community, separation of property,...) must also update their family record.
How do I go about it?
The notary who changed the marriage contract sends the necessary documents to the town hall where the marriage was celebrated to update the marriage certificate.
Once the marriage certificate has been modified, you must go to the town hall with this document justifying the change and your identity card.
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
The references to divorce and legal separation appear on the booklet with the reference to the marriage certificate.
In the event of divorce or separation, a second booklet may be given to those who do not have the original booklet.
Marriage in France
You must go to the town hall where the wedding was celebrated with your ID card and the divorce judgment.
To facilitate your steps, you can go to the city hall of your home, which can take care of transmitting the booklet to the authorities concerned. You will need to submit your credentials.
Marriage abroad
You must contact the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The request must be obligatory addressed by post on free paper.
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
The arrival of each child in a married or unmarried couple at birth or adoption must be entered in the family record book.
How do I go about it?
Birth in France
If you are not married, the booklet will be given to you at the birth of your 1er child.
In any case, you must go to the city hall of the child's place of birth with your identity card, birth certificate and/or adoption judgment.
To facilitate your steps, you can go to the city hall of your home, which can take care of transmitting the booklet to the authorities concerned. You will need to submit your credentials.
Please note
the indication of a lifeless child, the date and place of birth may be affixed to the family record book, at your request
Birth abroad
You must contact the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The request must be obligatory addressed by post on free paper.
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Please note
the indication of the child and the date and place of delivery may be affixed to the family record book at the request of the parents.
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
If a father recognizes a child after the issue of the family record book, the information concerning him (surname, first names, date and place of birth...) is included.
Where other children are already included in the family record book but have no connection with parentage together with the person making the recognition, the family record must be returned. Two other booklets are then issued:
- The 1er the booklet shall mention the child(ren) common to the mother and the father who made the recognition.
- The second booklet mentions the child(ren) not recognized or recognized by another father.
Please note
in the event of a change in parentage (e.g. after a filiation challenge), a new booklet may be submitted on request, in exchange for the previous one, without reference to the previous entries.
How do I go about it?
Birth in France
You must go to the town hall of the child's place of birth with your identity card and, possibly, the decision to recognize paternity.
To facilitate your steps, you can go to the city hall of your home, which can take care of transmitting the booklet to the authorities concerned. You will need to submit your credentials.
Birth abroad
You must contact the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The request must be obligatory addressed by post on free paper.
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
The death of a spouse, parent or minor child must be recorded in the family record book.
The excerpt from the death certificate reproduced in the booklet mentions only the place and date of death.
How do I go about it?
Deaths in France
General case
You must go to the town hall of the place of death or the home of the deceased with your identity card and the death certificate.
To facilitate your steps, you can go to the city hall of your home, which can take care of transmitting the booklet to the authorities concerned. You will need to submit your credentials.
Paris, Lyon or Marseille
If the deceased lived in Paris, Lyon or Marseille, to update the booklet, you must contact the city hall of the place of death.
Who shall I contact
To facilitate your steps, you can go to the city hall of your home, which can take care of transmitting the booklet to the authorities concerned. You will need to submit your credentials.
Deaths abroad
You must contact the mayor of the deceased's home or the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The application to the Central Civil Registry Service must be obligatory addressed by post on free paper.
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Sanctions
If you use a forged (i.e. false) or unupdated family book, you can be punished.
You may be fined up to €1,500, or €3,000 if the offense is repeated (i.e. if it occurs again).
If there is second booklet, it must be updated in the same way as the original booklet.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If you are in France
Town HallIf you are abroad
French Embassy or Consulate Abroad
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs