Every birth in England or Wales must be registered in the district in which it takes place within 42 days of the date of birth. Information for the registration is given to the registrar by the person registering the birth. The information, which is usually recorded on computer, is also recorded in the birth register and the person registering the birth signs the record.
If it is inconvenient to go to the district where the birth took place, the information for the registration may be given to a registrar in another district. The registrar will record the registration particulars on a form of declaration and send it to the registrar for the district where the birth occurred. The registrar who receives the declaration will enter the information in the birth register. Certificates of the birth, which may be ordered and paid for at the time of making the declaration, will be posted by the registrar for the district where the birth took place.
The baby does not need to be taken to the registrar's office to show that the birth has taken place. The local health authority or the hospital where the birth occurred will notify the registrar of the birth.
Registration can often be carried out at the hospital before the mother leaves, as well as at registrars' offices. The opening hours when a registrar will be available vary from one district to another and most of them operate an appointments system. You should contact the relevant district by telephone to obtain further information or to arrange an appointment.
Who can register a birth ?
A birth can be registered by
- Parents married to each other
- If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time of the birth (or conception), either the mother or the father may register.
- Parents not married to each other
If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the child's birth (or conception), the father's particulars may be entered in the register only in the following circumstances:
- the mother and father go to the register office and sign the birth register together
- where the father is unable to go to the register office with the mother
- the father may make a statutory declaration acknowledging his paternity which the mother must produce to the registrar (this form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales)
- where the mother is unable to go to the register office with the father
- the mother may make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father's paternity which the father must produce to the registrar (this form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales)
- where the mother and father have made a parental responsibility agreement or either has obtained an appropriate court order
- the agreement or order should be produced to the registrar by either parent
- If the father's particulars are not recorded in the birth register, it may be possible for the birth to be re-registered to include his details at a later date. You can obtain further information about how to apply for the re-registration of a birth.
Other people who may register births:
Although the majority of births are registered by the parents, sometimes neither the mother or the father are able to do this. In these circumstances, the registrar will arrange for the registration to be completed by whichever of the following people is best able to do so:
- the occupier of the house or hospital where the child was born
- a person who was present at the birth
- a person who is responsible for the child
- 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.
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:-
- This 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 or 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 or 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.
Information to be supplied for the registration of a birth:
- Child
- date and place of birth; if the birth is one of twins, triplets, etc the time of each child's birth will also be needed
- sex of the child
- the forename(s) and surname in which it is intended that the child will be brought up
- Father (where this information is to be entered in the register)
- forename(s) and surname
- date and place of birth
- occupation at the time of the child's birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
- Mother
- forename(s) and surname
- maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
- Date and place of birth
- occupation at the time of the child's birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
- usual address at the date of the birth
- date of marriage, if married to the child's father at the time of the birth
- number of previous children by the present husband and by any former husband
It is most important that the information recorded in the birth register is correct. If any mistake is made, for example in the spelling of a name or surname or in the description of the father's or mother's occupation, it will give the parents or other person who registered the birth some trouble to have it put right. The person registering the birth should check the information to be recorded in the register very carefully before the entry is signed.
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 registrar's office and act as interpreter. However, the parents must register the birth personally as a relative or friend cannot register instead of them.
What certificates will be issued?
After a birth has been registered, a short birth certificate showing the name, sex, date and district of birth is issued free of charge. The short certificate meets most ordinary needs but a full birth certificate, which is a complete copy of the register entry, is also available.(To apply for a passport you will need a full birth certificate.) Further short certificates and full certificates may be bought at the time of registration or at any time afterwards. You can obtain further information about obtaining certificates.
Births must be registered at:
Follaton House
Plymouth Road
Totnes
TQ9 5NE
Contact Number: 01803 861234
Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday 09:00 to 12.30 (all registration issues)
