Woman suffered ’emotional trauma’ trying to add late partner’s name to child’s birth certificate 

Woman whose partner died while she was pregnant says she suffered ’emotional trauma’ during court battle to add his name to the child’s birth certificate

  • Kirsty Gravett’s partner of 11 years Chris Vickery died from a heart attack in 2017
  • She was pregnant with their third child at the time but couldn’t add his name to birth certificate because they were not married
  • Mother-of-three suffered ’emotional trauma’ fighting to add his name in court

A woman whose partner died while she was pregnant has said she suffered ’emotional trauma’ fighting through the courts to get his name on their child’s birth certificate.

Because Kirsty Gravett and Chris Vickery were not married at the time of his death, she had to get a court order proving paternity.

‘Walking into court was just awful, you kind of feel like you’re in trouble,’ said Ms Gravett, from north Devon.

Kirsty Gravett’s partner of 11 years Chris Vickery died from a heart attack in 2017, when she was nine weeks pregnant with their third child

The law states unmarried parents need to register the birth together.

She has started an online petition calling on the government to make the process easier for people in similar situations.

Ms Gravett had to present a 'hefty' witness statement in court before the judge eventually approved the change on her son's birth certificate

Ms Gravett had to present a ‘hefty’ witness statement in court before the judge eventually approved the change on her son’s birth certificate

Mr Vickery, Ms Gravett’s partner of 11 years, died suddenly of a heart attack in 2017.

‘He was fit and well and it literally happened in seconds overnight.

‘He was 38,’ she said.

The couple already had two sons and Ms Gravett was nine weeks pregnant with their third child when her partner died.

‘Oliver is 18 months old and it’s only now I’ve had the emotional strength to do this,’ Ms Gravett said.

‘I just don’t think it’s fair on Oliver to have that empty space on his birth certificate.

‘If we’d been married, it would have been fine.’

Ms Gravett had to present a ‘hefty’ witness statement in court before the judge eventually approved the change on her son’s birth certificate.

‘I was an absolute nervous wreck, it was very intimidating,’ she said.

Ms Gravett said she was ‘hopeful’ her petition would ‘shake things up a little bit’.

‘I appreciate why the laws are in place, but I think the process could be made easier,’ she said.

The couple already had two sons and Ms Gravett was nine weeks pregnant with their third child when her partner died

The couple already had two sons and Ms Gravett was nine weeks pregnant with their third child when her partner died

‘The emotional trauma it adds to an already traumatic experience – I just think something more could be done.’

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy has been campaigning on the issue since 2015, arguing it was ‘vital the law of the land reflects the society and times we live in’.

A Home Office spokesperson said it relied on a court to make a declaration of parentage.               

A Home Office spokesperson said it relied on a court to make a declaration of parentage

A Home Office spokesperson said it relied on a court to make a declaration of parentage

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