Registering your Childs Birth.

Registering a Birth

When you are going through one of the biggest events of your life, paperwork is understandably the last thing on your mind. But once things have settled, registering your baby's birth is a legal requirement — and the birth certificate you receive will matter throughout your child's life, from getting a passport to registering with a GP, claiming benefits and applying for schools.

Registration is required by law under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, which ensures accurate official records are kept of every birth.

When Must You Register?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a birth must be registered within 42 days (six weeks). In Scotland, the time limit is shorter, at 21 days.

Failing to register within the time limit is an offence, so if you are approaching the deadline and have not yet been able to get an appointment, contact the register office as soon as possible rather than letting the date pass.

Where to Register

The birth should be registered at the register office for the district where the baby was born, not where you live. Some hospitals arrange for a registrar to attend so the birth can be registered before the mother leaves — the hospital will tell you if this is available. It is worth asking your midwife or at antenatal classes what happens locally.

Most register offices now work by appointment only, so book ahead rather than turning up. You can find your local office at gov.uk/register-offices.

If you cannot get to the district where the baby was born, you can go to another register office and make what is called a declaration. That office will send the details to the correct one. Your certificates will take a few days to arrive rather than being issued on the spot, and not every office offers this service, so check first.

Who Can Register the Birth?

If the parents are married or in a civil partnership, either parent can register the birth alone.

If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership and you want the father's details on the certificate, both parents normally need to attend together. If one cannot attend, it may be possible to use a statutory declaration of parentage instead — ask the register office in advance. Similar rules apply where both parents are female and you want both names recorded, depending on how the child was conceived and your legal status as a couple.

If neither parent can register the birth, it can be done by someone else with a qualifying connection, such as someone present at the birth, a person responsible for the child, or an official from the hospital where the baby was born.

A mother is never required to record the father's details, and there are situations where they can be left off the certificate. If your circumstances are sensitive or complicated, it is worth speaking to the register office before your appointment.

What Information You Will Need

The registrar will ask for details of the birth and the parents, so have the following ready: the name you have chosen for your baby, the date, time and place of birth, the parents' full names, addresses and occupations, the parents' dates and places of birth, and the date and place of marriage or civil partnership if this applies.

Take at least one form of identification with you, such as a passport or driving licence, along with the mother's hospital discharge papers or the baby's personal child health record (the red book) if you have them, as some registrars ask to see these.

Take care over the details, especially spellings. Correcting a birth certificate after registration is possible in limited circumstances but involves an application and a fee, so it is far easier to get it right the first time.

Birth Certificates and Fees

Registering the birth itself is free. Certificates must be paid for — a full birth certificate, which includes the parents' details, currently costs £12.50, and you can buy as many copies as you need at registration or at any time afterwards.

It is usually worth buying at least one full certificate at registration, as you will need it for things like passport applications, and copies ordered later from the General Register Office take longer to arrive.

If you decide on or change a forename within 12 months of registration, it can be added to the record, although a fee applies.

Current Position

Register your baby's birth within 42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or 21 days in Scotland, at the register office for the district where the baby was born — booking an appointment first. Registration is free, certificates currently cost £12.50 each, and unmarried parents should both attend if the father's details are to be recorded. If anything about your situation is unusual, contact the register office before your appointment.

Disclaimer

Solicitors.com is not a firm of solicitors and does not provide legal advice. The information on this page is for general guidance only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a regulated solicitor. Registration law, procedures and fees can change, and how the law applies will depend on the facts of each case.

Feedback

If you believe this page contains an error or requires updating, please get in touch with us. We welcome amendments that help keep our legal information accurate and useful.