Japan to reform 19th century law that puts ex-husband on child’s birth certificate

Automatic addition of ex-husband as father on document within 300 days of divorce to be scrapped

Japan is set to reform a 19th century law that automatically registers a woman's ex-husband as the father of a child born within 300 days of their divorce.

A government panel this week recommended amending the rule, along with another clause in the law that prevents women from remarrying for 100 days after a divorce on the grounds that the paternity of a child born soon after would be unclear.