British citizenship by descent

[dead joe]

Hello everyone.
So here is my situation, pretty straightforward, but a there's a twist to it.

I am French, born in France in April of 1986, from a French mother and a British father (born in the UK from British parents). I think this would normally be enough to make me British by descent. But here's the twist : my father recognised me in June of 1987, so 14 months after my birth. Two months after the requisite 12 months span. And he is now deceased, so a DNA test is not possible.

So my question is : What other documents could constitute valid proofs of paternity ?

I have read all the documentation at gov.uk and have not found an answer. I have also contacted the nearest consulate, as well as the Home Office, who kindly offered the help of a lawyer for a modest 120£...

[secret.simon]

Was your mother married to anybody at the time of your birth?

[dead joe]

No, my parents were not married but my mother was not married to anyone else either.

[secret.simon]

my parents were not married

That's fine. Had they been married, you would not have asked the question you have.

my mother was not married to anyone else either

That's crucial, because had she been, you would not have been able to claim British citizenship from your British father.

my father recognised me in June of 1987, so 14 months after my birth.

Were you issued with a new birth certificate listing your British father's name as a parent at that time?

If so, I think that that may be acceptable for the purposes of being able to apply for a British passport.

he is now deceased, so a DNA test is not possible.

Do you have any known British half-siblings through your father? Alternatively, are you in touch with your British father's family, who may be OK with providing a DNA test? These are all options to look into.

[dead joe]

First of all, thank you very much for all your answers, you are of great help. I was really starting to lose faith navigating through the administration.

Were you issued with a new birth certificate listing your British father's name as a parent at that time?

If so, I think that that may be acceptable for the purposes of being able to apply for a British passport.

On the full birth certificate it is an addendum at the bottom, saying that he recognised me at that date. On the official extract though, issued afterwards, it says that I am born from so and so, listing them as my parents without any distinction whatsoever.

I have also foud a Certificate of French Nationality at my name where my father is listed as such. This being a Court order, maybe it could help ?

Do you have any known British half-siblings through your father? Alternatively, are you in touch with your British father's family, who may be OK with providing a DNA test? These are all options to look into.

I had not thought about that. Although I only have cousins, and we're not that close, so I would rather not have to ask something that intimate of them... They'd probably feel compelled to do it and it would all be really awkward