A civil baptism, also known in France as civil or republican godparenting (parrainage civil, parrainage républicain), is a secular ceremony held at the town hall to celebrate a child's birth, in front of the mayor or a local councillor. It has no legal value, no town is required to hold one, and the conditions vary from one place to the next. This article explains what it really involves, how to apply for one and how to organise the day when your child is a few months old.
The information below comes from the dedicated factsheet on Service-Public, the official French government information website, checked on 9 October 2025, from two ministerial answers and from the 2015 French Senate report on the bill on civil godparenting.
What is a civil baptism?
It is a moral, private commitment by which adults chosen by the parents promise to be there for the child as they grow up. The ceremony is usually held in the wedding room, in the presence of the mayor, a deputy mayor or a local councillor. The official reads a text, the godparents say a few words or sign a document, and the town hall sometimes hands over a sponsorship record.
This sponsorship record has no legal value. Service-Public is explicit: the civil baptism ‘is not provided for by any law’, it is not entered in the civil registers, and the documents issued create no obligations. It is a symbolic act, not a civil status record.
Its origins are unclear. Town halls often cite texts from the French Revolution, including a decree of 20 Prairial Year II. The 2015 Senate report notes that none of these texts explicitly mentions the practice, so there is no established legal basis. The tradition itself, however, is a good two centuries old.
Does a civil baptism have any legal value?
No. The French Ministry of Justice confirmed this again on 27 December 2018, in reply to a senator who asked whether the commitment signed by the godparents could count as a contract. The answer is clear: town halls state that the ceremony has no legal value, parents and godparents know this, and the commitment remains moral and cannot be enforced in court.
If you want a trusted person to look after your child should both parents die, a civil baptism is not enough. Service-Public points out that parents can appoint a guardian in a will or by a declaration before a notary. This is a separate process, which may involve the godfather or godmother, but it does not follow from the ceremony.
A bill tabled in the Senate on 1 April 2015 sought to record godparenting in a civil register, with obligations for the godparents. The Law Committee removed these legal effects, judging them risky for the child's best interests and off-putting for godparents. The text adopted in committee kept a purely symbolic scope and did not change the law in force.
Which town hall can hold a civil baptism?
Any one that agrees to. No town is obliged to offer it, and some refuse on principle. In practice, most town halls that hold them ask for at least one parent to live in the town. A few accept families whose grandparents live there.
You apply to the civil registry office or the ‘vie citoyenne’ (civic affairs) department. Waiting times vary: some towns hold ceremonies by appointment within a few weeks, others group them on set dates, often on Saturday mornings, sometimes several months ahead. A call to the civil registry office as soon as you have decided saves unpleasant surprises.
Documents usually requested
- The child's birth certificate, or the family record book (livret de famille).
- Proof of identity for both parents.
- Proof of identity for the godparents, and sometimes proof of their address.
- Proof that the parents live in the town.
- An application form, online or in person depending on the town.
These are the documents listed by Service-Public; each town sets its own list. Registering the birth, on the other hand, is compulsory and must be done within 5 days: we cover it in detail in our article on paperwork after the birth.
How do you choose the godparents?
Since the commitment is moral, the choice rests on the relationship, not on status. Town halls usually ask for godparents who are adults, with no other conditions. Some accept a single godparent, two godmothers or more than two people: check before announcing the roles.
Three questions help you decide. Will this person still be part of your child's life in ten years? Do they share your approach to bringing up children, or at least respect it? Do they accept that the commitment is symbolic and creates no rights or duties? A civil baptism is not the place to settle someone's position in the family, a subject we cover in our article on how grandparents find their place.
How does the ceremony go?
It usually lasts fifteen to thirty minutes. The official welcomes the family, explains the meaning of the commitment and sometimes reads a text on republican values. The parents introduce the child, and the godparents make their commitment out loud or sign the document prepared by the town hall. A few words, a gift, a group photo, and it's done.
There is no dress code and no compulsory ritual. Some families prepare a text for the godparents to read, others let the official lead. Nothing stops you asking the town hall what it has planned, so you can adapt the rest.
Organising the day with a baby of a few months
Most civil baptisms take place in the first year. Organising one is much like planning a family celebration, with the constraints of a young baby.
Choose the time around your child's routine
A late-morning ceremony often falls between two naps. If the town hall offers several slots, take the one that comes after a feed and before the long nap. A baby who is fed and rested copes better with a full room and unfamiliar voices than one woken too early.
Plan the meal afterwards
Lunch at home keeps your child in familiar surroundings and lets you put them down at the usual time. At a restaurant, the same rules apply as for any outing, and we cover them in detail in our article on eating out with a baby. A table set apart, a spot for nappy changes, a leaving time agreed in advance.
Keep the noise and the passing around to a minimum
A wedding room echoes, and a baby gets passed from arm to arm without asking for it. Keep your child close to a parent during the ceremony, plan a quiet corner for breastfeeding or a bottle, and be ready to step outside for five minutes if the crying builds: that's all. The tips for having friends over with a baby also apply to the reception afterwards.
The bag for the day
A change of clothes, two more nappies than you think you'll need, a muslin for the town hall floor, the favourite cuddly toy, and everything to feed your child. There's no need to buy a special outfit that will only be worn for an hour: clean, comfortable clothes are enough, your child isn't posing for the photo.
Civil baptism gifts: keep it simple
There are no rules. The tradition of an engraved piece of jewellery comes from religious baptism and is in no way compulsory. A useful, long-lasting gift makes more sense for a child of a few months. A book that will be read to them for years, money in a savings account in their name, or an everyday item that will be used for a long time. Our article on new baby gifts develops this idea, and a Treelys foldable play mat is one of the things a godparent can give without getting the age wrong.
The best thing is to talk it over with the godparents before the day: it's their commitment the day celebrates, not their budget.
Frequently asked questions
Civil or religious baptism: can you do both?
Yes. The two ceremonies are independent. A civil baptism is not linked to any religion and does not rule out a religious celebration, before or after.
Up to what age can you have a civil baptism?
There is no legal age limit, since there is no law. Most town halls accept children under 18, and some set a maximum age in their internal rules. An older child can take part in the ceremony and choose their own words.
Is the sponsorship record from the town hall of any use?
As a keepsake, not as proof of any right. It is not entered in the civil register and has no effect on parental responsibility, guardianship or inheritance.
Does the child's name have to be announced in a particular way?
No. The surname and first names are those on the birth certificate. The family name is chosen when the birth is registered, as we explain in our article on choosing your baby's surname, and a civil baptism does not change it.
Key points to remember
A civil baptism is a secular, symbolic ceremony, held by town halls that are willing to, with no legal value and no entry in the civil register. Contact the civil registry office early, choose godparents for the relationship rather than the title, and plan the day around your child's routine. To appoint a guardian, a separate process, by will or through a notary, is still necessary.
Sources
- Service-Public.gouv.fr, ‘Quelle est la valeur juridique du baptême civil?’, factsheet F1507, checked on 9 October 2025.
- French Senate, written question no. 07644 by François Pillet and reply from the Ministry of Justice, published on 27 December 2018.
- French Senate, report no. 442 (2014-2015) by Yves Détraigne on the bill on civil godparenting, submitted on 12 May 2015.
- Ministerial reply of 20 May 2014 on the scope of civil baptism, cited by Service-Public.
