Registering a birth
- Why do I need to register the birth of my baby?
- When should a birth be registered?
- Where can the birth be registered?
- Who can register the birth?
- What questions will the Registrar ask?
- What will it cost?
- What documents will I receive?
Why do I need to register the birth of my baby?
Parents are legally required to register a birth. You need to register your baby’s birth in order to obtain a birth certificate, thereby giving him/her an official identity. You can then use the certificate to claim child benefit and other family-related benefits.
When should a birth be registered?
By law, you must register the birth of your child within 42 days (six weeks) of the date of birth.
You are strongly advised to contact the Register Office before attending, since many offices are only part-time and all operate an appointment system. The registration process will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
Where can the birth be registered?
The birth must be registered in the Registration District in which it occurred. If it is not convenient to visit the Register Office for that District, details of the birth may be given at any other Register Office in England and Wales by making a declaration.
In that case, any certificates requested by you and the form to register the baby with a doctor will be sent to you by post.
Who can register the birth?
Only the parent(s) can register a birth.
However, should circumstances not allow either parent to attend to register the birth in person, within 42 days, please seek further advice from your local Register Office.
If the child’s parents are married to each other, either of them may register the birth.
If the parents are not married to each other at the time of the birth, the father’s details can only be entered into the register if either,
- both parents attend together
or - a statutory declaration or relevant court order has been made.
If the father’s details are not recorded at the time of registration, it may be possible to do this at a later date.
What questions will the Registrar ask?
The interview with the Registrar will be conducted in private and the information given will be held in the strictest confidence. Specifically, the Registrar will ask for:
- the date and place of baby’s birth
- whether it is a boy or a girl
- the full names and surname in which the child will be brought up (for information and tips on choosing a name see www.babynames.co.uk)
- the parents’ names, date and place of birth and occupation
- the parents’ date of marriage (if applicable) and the number of previous children to the mother.
Where the child’s parents have a different surname from each other, great care should be taken when deciding the surname by which their child will be known.
The child’s surname cannot be changed later, except in specific circumstances.
The Registrar will enter these details onto a computer and then make a legal and permanent record of the event by writing this information into the birth register.
The parent(s) will then be asked to check the information, before signing it as a true and accurate record.
It is very important to give accurate information, particularly the child’s names and all spellings. Any mistakes made may be difficult to correct later.
What will it cost?
There is no charge to register a birth. You will only be charged for any extra certificates you may request.
What documents will I receive?
Once the birth has been registered parents will receive a free, short birth certificate, showing the child’s names, sex and date of birth.
For a short time after the registration, additional short certificates and full certificates (showing the complete register entry) are available from the same Registrar at a fee of £3.50.
The Registrar will also issue parents with a form with which to register the child with a doctor.
