When can I register a baby's birth?
By law a baby's birth must be registered within 42 days of the date of birth. You will need to contact the relevant Register Office before attending as you need to make an appointment, which usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes.
Where can I register the birth?
The birth will be registered in the District in which the birth occurred. If it is not convenient for you to visit the Register Office for the District - please see link to your local Register Office for locations. You can also go to any other Register Office in England or Wales to make a declaration of the particulars required for the registration. In that case, any birth certificates you require and the form issued to enable you to register your baby with a family doctor will be sent to you by post.
Where one or both of the parents are not British you should also contact the relevant Embassy or consul, in this country after registering the birth - see useful links page. Any query regarding British Nationality for a child should be directed to the Home Office, Nationality Division, 3rd Floor, Indian Buildings, Water Street, Liverpool, L2 0QN.
The fact that a baby has been born is reported to the local Register Office by the Health Authority, so you don't have to take the baby with you as proof! If you fail to make an appointment within a month most Register Offices will write to the mother to remind her of the legal obligation to register the birth within the 42 days.
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Who can register the birth?
It is usual for the mother to register the birth. If the mother was married to the baby's father at the time of the birth, he may register the birth without the mother being present.
However, if the mother and the baby's father were not married at the time of the birth, the father's details can only be entered into the register if both parents attend together to register the birth or a statutory declaration is made.
If the mother was not married to the baby's father at the time of the birth, you are not normally obliged to have the father's details included in the register. If the father's details are not entered at the time of registration, it may be possible for this to be done at a later date, please see information on re-registering a birth.
Registering the birth of a child conceived after fertility treatment
The woman who gives birth, including a surrogate mother, will be shown as the child's mother in the birth registration. The man who is to be regarded as the father of the child will generally be the husband or partner who received treatment with the mother.
In the case of a surrogacy arrangement, the couple who arranged for the surrogate mother to carry a child for them may apply to the courts for a parental order that will enable the birth to be re-registered to show them as the parents. Legal advice should be obtained if further information about this is required. When a court issues a parental order, a copy is sent to Corrections and Re-registration Section at the General Register Office in Southport who will complete the re-registration of the birth. You may wish to visit the General Register Office website for this information - see the useful links page.
Registration where the father dies before a child is conceived
Where a child is conceived as a result of fertility treatment after the death of the man receiving treatment with the mother, the man can be registered as the child's father on production of the following documentary evidence:
- his written consent to the fertility treatment and to being named as the father in the child's birth registration (not required where the man died before 18 September 2003)
- written confirmation from the clinic that the man's consent had not been withdrawn (not required where the man died before 18 September 2003)
- the woman's written request for the man to be named as the father in the birth registration
- written confirmation of the fertility treatment from a medical source, for example, the treatment clinic, mother's own doctor or hospital doctor
- the man's death certificate (original required - photocopy not acceptable), If he died in England and Wales details of where and when will be sufficient
- a marriage certificate where applicable (original required - photocopy not acceptable), If the marriage took place in England and Wales details of where and when will be sufficient.
Recording the man as a child's father in these circumstances does not mean he will be treated in law as the child's father for any purpose other than registration. Nor does it give the child any legal status or rights concerning, for example, inheritance or nationality. If you would like further information, you should seek legal advice.
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Parental responsibility
The mother of a child, and the father if he is married to the mother, automatically have parental responsibility. Where the parents are not married to each other, the father will acquire parental responsibility if he acts with the mother to have his name recorded in the child's birth registration on or after 1 December 2003. An unmarried father can also obtain parental responsibility by later marrying the child's mother, by making a parental responsibility agreement with her or by getting a court order. You may wish to think about this if you have other children. If you need further information or advice, you should call Parentline Plus on 0808 800 2222.
For further information on treatment services and deceased fathers, see useful links page.
Registering a birth after 12 months
If a birth occurs in England and Wales and has not been registered within 12 months of its occurrence it is possible for the late registration of the birth to be authorised by the Registrar General provided certain requirements can be met.
Before the Registrar General can authorise a late registration of a birth he must be satisfied, by documentary evidence, of the child's exact date and place of birth. There must also be a person available who can attend any Register Office in England and Wales to give the information for the registration. More information about registering a birth and who can do this is available in Who can register a birth?; You can also contact your local Register Office alternatively you may wish to visit the General Register Office website - see the useful links page.
About the Baby
- The date and place of baby's birth. If the birth is one of twins, triplets etc., then the time of each baby's birth will be needed.
- Whether the baby is a boy or girl.
- The forename(s) and surname in which it is intended that the baby will be brought up.
About the Father (where the details are to be entered into the register)
- Forename(s) and surname and any other previous forename(s) and/or surname or alias.
- Date and place of birth.
- Occupation at the time of baby's birth, or if not employed, the previous occupation, or usual line of work or profession.
- Address if different to that of baby's mother.
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About the Mother
- Forename(s) and surname, and any other previous forename(s) and or surname(s) or alias.
- If married - maiden surname.
- Date and place of birth.
- Address at the time of baby's birth.
- Occupation. If the mother has been working at any time prior to the birth, her occupation may be entered into the register if required.
- Date of marriage if married to the child's father.
- The number of previous children by the present husband and by any former husband.
It is important that the information recorded in the register is correct. If any mistake is made, it will put you to some trouble to have it corrected. You should therefore check the entry in the register very carefully before you sign.
If English is not the mother's or father's first language and help is needed with registering the birth, it would be helpful for a relative or friend to accompany them to the register office and act as an interpreter. However, the parents must register the birth personally as a relative or friend cannot register instead of them.
What the parent(s) will receive
After registration a short birth certificate will be issued free of charge, showing the child's name, sex and date of birth. Further copies of short and full certificates can be obtained for a fee of £3.50 each at the time of registration, or while in a 'current' register. You will also receive a form that you will need to complete and hand to your family doctor.
Copies of birth certificates
If you would like a copy of a birth certificate please download and complete the form and send with remittance (£5.50 for a short birth certificate, £7.00 for a standard birth certificate) to the Register Office where the birth was registered. If you need the address of your local register office please click on this link: your local Register Office
A short birth certificate contains the following information:
- Name, sex and date of birth
A standard birth certificate is an exact copy of the information contained in the register entry and may contain the following information:
- Date and place of birth, name and surname, sex
- Fathers full name, place of birth, occupation
- Mother's full name, place of birth, maiden surname, usual address
- Who registered the birth
- Signature of who registered birth
- Date of registration, signature of registrar
All certificates are crown copyright and cannot be photocopied.
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Where can I get further advice
If you are still uncertain of how to proceed with registering baby's birth, please contact your local Register Office.
Department of Work and Pensions and Inland Revenue - see the useful links page.
For advice and support on maternity rights see the useful links
Certificates required for passport applications
With effect from 4 May 2004, first time passport applicants born after 1 January 1983 will need supply a full birth certificate, which provides additional information about parentage.
This measure is an important safeguard against false claims of British nationality and has been introduced to protect against identity fraud. The standard, shortened birth certificate will no longer be acceptable evidence of nationality for the purpose of applying for a British passport in the UK.
For further information please ask any staff within your local Register Office. Alternatively contact the Passport Adviceline on 0870 521 0410 or visit the passport office website - see the useful links page.
In 2006, the UK Passport Service (UKPS) will start to introduce biometric passports. The technology uses the unique features we all have. The new passports will have new security features including a chip with the facial biometrics taken from a passport photo. For more information regarding biometric passports please contact the Passport Adviceline on 0870 521 0410 or visit the passport office website - see the useful links page.
See useful links for information about child benefit, this includes an application form to download. Alternatively you should be able to collect an application form from your local post office.
Real Nappy Campaign
Northamptonshire County Council, Registration Service is supporting this scheme which has been set up to say thank you to parents who are using real washable nappies on their babies rather than disposables.
When you purchase a pack of washable nappies from any company, or subscribe to a nappy laundry service and spend over £75, Northamptonshire County Council will give you £25 back.
To receive £25 cashback you can complete an online form. Please note that this is only possible if you have the ability to scan your receipt(s) and attach them to the online form.
For further information regarding this campaign please see useful links.
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