Baby Damian Charles Hurley’s birth certificate was filed at the Westminster register office yesterday, and while mum, actress Elizabeth Hurley, has filled in her name under “Mother”, the spot for the father’s name has been left blank.
In the case of unmarried couples, according to law, the father must be present in order for his name to be included on the document. Neither single mum Liz, nor the man she says is Damian’s father, millionaire Steve Bing, appeared in person at the Central London registry. Instead, her older sister Kate, who witnessed the baby’s birth, filed the papers on Liz's behalf.
Hollywood producer Steve, who has made no secret of his doubt that he’s Damian’s dad, put the paternity issue in the hands of the British courts last week. In a public move Liz found “distressing”, he initiated legal action to determine if the three-week-old baby is his son.
“If it is proved that Mr Bing is Damian’s father, he would wish generously to support him and to be involved in his upbringing,” said Steve’s statement, released soon after the wealthy playboy filed with the Family Division of the High Court.
Should Steve turn out to be Damian’s dad, filling in the blank space should not pose a problem – the birth certificate can be revised, but only if the father signs the document in person.