Register a birth

Who can register the birth

Parents who are married or in a civil partnership

Either the mother or father can register the birth on their own if they were married to each other when the baby was born or conceived. Both parents' details will be included on the certificate.

Parents who are not married or in a civil partnership

Both parents' details can be included on the birth certificate if they do one of the following:

• both parents go and sign the birth register together
• one parent goes to register the birth with a document from the court (for example, a court order) giving the father parental responsibility
• one parent completes a statutory declaration of parentage form (opens new window) and the other takes the signed form to register the birth
• The mother can choose to register the birth on her own if she isn't married to the child's father. The father's details won't be included on the birth certificate. It might be possible to add the father's details at a later date by re-registering the birth.

What happens at your appointment

Bring your letter (red book) from the hospital with you. You will be asked:

• the place and date of the birth
• the time of the birth, if a multiple birth
• first name, surname and sex of the baby
• parents' first names, surnames and addresses
• places and dates of parents' birth
• the date of parents' marriage or civil partnership
• parents' jobs at the time of the birth
• mother's maiden surname if she is, or has ever been, married
• number of children the mother has had by her present husband or any former husband

It is helpful to bring documents to your appointment so the correct spellings of all names and addresses are recorded. This could be a passport, driving licence, utility bill, birth or marriage certificate. 

Don't worry if any of these documents aren't available as the registrar can still register the birth.

It is important that the information entered into the register is right as mistakes can be difficult to correct and will incur a fee of up to £90.

If English is not your first language, you may ask a friend or relative to come with you to act as an interpreter.

A birth certificate is available at the time of registration. View our fees and charges.