PROCEDURE TO RECLAIM A LOST OR DESTROYED BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN CAMEROON

PROCEDURE TO RECLAIM A LOST OR DESTROYED BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN CAMEROON

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAMEROON BIRTH CERTIFICATE IS LOST OR DESTROYED?

The birth certificate is a document that attests to the legal existence of a natural person.

Though of great importance, this document is sometimes neglected by its owner in this sense or he can either keep it or keep it poorly (wet, burnt, torn, etc.) thereby losing it.

In this case, a special procedure will be followed as provided by the Ordinance of June 29, 1981, on the organization of the Civil Status and various provisions relating to the status of natural persons:

STAGE 1: NON-JUDIAL PROCEDURE.

1. • The user will have to approach the Main Civil Status Centre (Town Hall) or the Secondary Civil Status Centre where his birth certificate was established and ask to see if the Birth certificate is still in the civil status registry booklet.

1. • If it exists, he will be issued a certified copy of his birth certificate which he will renew every three months.

       In case the birth certificate        doesn’t exist in the civil              registry booklet:

STAGE 2: JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.

1. • You will request to be issued a certificate of the non-existence of the Booklet in the Centre of Civil or Secondary where his act was established;

• • Approach a Health facility (Hospital) nearest to your home and ask for an apparent age certificate;

• • Write a reasoned request to be addressed to the President of the competent Court, to which you will attach the certificates of the non-existence of the booklet and apparent age certificates;
    
    
  • With the certified Copy of the Judgment and Certificate of Non-Appeal, go to the Principal or Secondary Civil Status Centre where you have duly obtained the certificate of the non-existence of the booklet, present them to the Civil Status Officer and your birth certificate will be re-established.