Chapter II: Civil status records

The judicial court or its president with territorial jurisdiction is that of the place where the person whose civil status is in question lives or, if he or she lives outside France, the judicial court of Paris or its president. The court of the place where the record was drawn up or transcribed may also be seised. Only the following courts, however, have jurisdiction: – the court of the place…

The action is open to any person who has an interest in it and to the public prosecutor.

The claim is lodged, investigated and judged as in non-contentious matters.

It may also be submitted without form to the public prosecutor, who will refer the matter to the competent court. However, if the public prosecutor intends to oppose the application, he will inform the applicant and invite him to refer the matter to the court himself by writ. .

The case is communicated to the public prosecutor’s office for its opinion. When the application is made by the Public Prosecutor or a third party, the person whose civil status is in question or their heirs shall be heard or called. To this end, the application shall state their surname, first name, domicile, date and place of birth without prejudice to the particulars provided for by the 3° of Article…

The court may order that any interested person be called to account and that the family council be convened.

If the request is granted, the court shall order that all documents, even those drawn up or transcribed outside its jurisdiction, be amended by a note in the margin. To this end, the operative part of the decision is sent by the public prosecutor to the custodian of the amended documents. The annulled document may no longer be updated. It may only be issued with the exceptional authorisation of the…