Registering a birth

When your baby is born, you must register the birth within 42 days. To register the birth you need to make an appointment with us. 

How to book an appointment

Attending an appointment

How to get a birth certificate

Birth certificates are £11 each, the payment will be taken by card only on arrival for the appointment. 

What information is needed

Ensure that you know all the information required for the birth registration before attending our office. If you attend and you do not know this information you will need to make another appointment. This is what you need:

• Date of birth
• Name(s) and surname of the child
• Sex
• Place of birth
• Father’s / 2nd female parent’s name(s) and surname
• Father’s / 2nd female parent’s place of birth
• Father’s/2nd female parent’s occupation
• Mother’s name(s) and surname
• Mother’s maiden surname
• Mother’s place of birth
• Mother’s occupation
• Mother’s usual address
• Your details

Date of birth

Date on which child was born. If a multiple birth also provide the time.

Name(s) and surname of the child

This is the name(s) and surname in which you intend the child to be brought up.

Sex

Male or Female

Place of birth

This should be the usual name and address of the hospital or the address of the house the child was born in.

Father’s / 2nd female parent’s name(s) and surname

This is the name(s) and surname that the father/parent was known by at the time of the birth. If they have changed name or surname at any stage the other names should also be provided.

Father’s / 2nd female parent’s place of birth

If the father/parent was born in the United Kingdom you should provide the London Borough; Borough; or the town or village and county. If they were born outside of the United Kingdom you should provide the name of the country.

Father’s/2nd female parent’s occupation

This should be the occupation the father/parent had at the time of the birth. If not working, you may provide the last occupation had.

Mother’s name(s) and surname

This is the name(s) and surname that the mother was known by at the time of the birth. If the mother has changed her name or surname at any stage, the other names should also be provided.

Mother’s maiden surname

This is the name the mother entered into her first marriage or civil partnership. The registrar will also ask if the mother has used any other names at the time of any other marriages or civil partnerships.

Mother’s place of birth

If the mother was born in the United Kingdom you should provide the London Borough; Borough; or the town or village and county. If she was born outside of the United Kingdom you should provide the name of the country.

Mother’s occupation

This should be the occupation the mother had at the time of the birth. You may provide the last occupation had. 

Mother’s usual address

The full postal address should be given.

Your details

If you are not the mother or the father you should state your name, address and your relationship to the child. For example were you present at the birth or have custody of the child?

Equal parental responsibility

Unmarried fathers get equal parental responsibility. All that is necessary is for both parents to register the birth of your baby together.

The change to the regulations, introduced on the 1 December 2003, is not retrospective, so fathers who are not married to the mother of a child born before 1 December 2003 can still only get parental responsibility either by:

• Making a written agreement with the mother
• Applying to the court for a parental responsibility order

Parental responsibility for your child gives you important legal rights as well as responsibilities. Without it, you don't have any right to be involved in decisions such as where they live, their education, religion or medical treatment. With parental responsibility, you are treated in law as the child's parent, and you take equal responsibility for bringing them up.

Family Lives (Parentline Plus) have a free helpline where you can talk through the options and ask for advice. Call them on Family Lives 0808 800 2222 or textphone 0800 783 6783.