Part III Declarations of Status
56F1 Declarations as to parentage, legitimacy or legitimation.
1
Any person may apply to F2the High Court or a countycourt for a declaration—
F3a
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b
that he is the legitimate child of his parents.
2
Any person may apply to F2the High Court or a county court for one (or for one or, in the alternative, the other) of the following declarations, that is to say—
a
a declaration that he has become a legitimated person;
b
a declaration that he has not become a legitimated person.
3
A court shall have jurisdiction to entertain an application under this section if, and only if, the applicant—
a
is domiciled in England and Wales on the date of the application; or
b
has been habitually resident in England and Wales throughout the period of one year ending with that date.
4
Where a declaration is made C1by a courton an application under subsection (1) above, the prescribed officer of the court shall notify the Registrar General, in such a manner and within such period as may be prescribed, of the making of that declaration.
5
In this section “legitimated person” means a person legitimated or recognised as legitimated—
a
under section 2 or 3 of the Legitimacy Act M11976;
b
under section 1 or 8 of the Legitimacy Act M21926; or
c
by a legitimation (whether or not by virtue of the subsequent marriage of his parents) recognised by the law of England and Wales and effected under the law of another country.