Can a town hall refuse to issue an administrative document?
Verified 03 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
The town hall must only hand over the documents which the law makes compulsory their issuance.
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Birth certificate
The town hall cannot refuse to deliver your birth certificate.
The town hall must also update family booklet if you ask him.
In case of difficulty, you can enter the public prosecutor.
Please note
The request must be made by you or a member of your family (ascending, descendant, spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent). The request may also be made by a person with a written warrant, a lawyer or a genealogist, under certain conditions.
Marriage certificate
The town hall cannot refuse to deliver your marriage certificate.
The town hall must also update family booklet if you ask him.
In case of difficulty, you can enter the public prosecutor.
Please note
The request must be made by you or a member of your family (ascending, descendant, spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent). The request may also be made by a person with a written warrant, by a lawyer or a genealogist, under certain conditions.
Death certificate
The town hall cannot refuse to deliver you the death certificate which you have requested.
However, for security reasons, the issue of the death certificate may be limited to the persons listed in the death certificate (parents, spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent, the person who declared the death).
The town hall must also update family booklet if you ask him.
In case of difficulty, you can enter the public prosecutor.
Family booklet in case of marriage or birth of the 1st child
The town hall cannot refuse to issue you your family record book in case of marriage or birth of the first child.
The town hall must also update family booklet if you ask him.
In case of difficulty, you can enter the public prosecutor.
Second family record book in case of divorce or separation
The town hall cannot refuse to deliver to you a 2nd family booklet in case of divorce or separation.
The town hall must also update family booklet if you ask him.
In case of difficulty, you can enter the public prosecutor.
Identity card
The town hall cannot refuse to register your request for identity card if it is equipped with a recording station for taking a print.
The town hall records the request and forwards it to the prefectural services.
The City Council is not competent to accept or refuse an application for an identity card.
In case of difficulty, you can make a appeal to the prefect by post to inform him of the situation.
Passport
The town hall cannot refuse to register your request for passport if it is equipped with a recording station for taking a print.
The town hall records the request and forwards it to the prefectural services.
The City Council is not competent to accept or refuse a passport application.
In case of difficulty, you can make a appeal to the prefect by post to inform him of the situation.
Certificate of good life and morals
The town hall may refuse to issue you a certificate of good life and morals.
The act does not require this document.
No French administration can therefore require it.
However, this certificate may be requested from you by a foreign authority. In this case, the town hall must provide you with this document.
Special certificate of indigence
The town hall may refuse to issue you a special certificate of indigence.
The act does not require this document.
No administration can therefore require it.
Certificate of domicile
The town hall may refuse to issue you a certificate of domicile.
The act does not require this document.
No administration can therefore require it.
Certified copy of a document intended for a French administration
The town hall may refuse to deliver to you a certified true copy a document intended for a French administration.
A copy of a French document intended for a French administration does not need to be certified as a true copy.
Certified copy of a document intended for a foreign administration
Issuance of a certified true copy a document intended for a foreign administration can't be denied.
You can contact a town hall, prefecture or notary.
You must specify that the certified copy is intended for use abroad.
Issuance of administrative documents
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