Congratulations on the arrival of your new baby
We appreciate that life must be pretty hectic for you at the
moment, but it is a legal requirement to register the birth, so
it's best to get it done sooner rather than later.
The registration will require a personal visit to a Register
Office and there
are some things you may wish to consider before coming to see
us.
The information included on these pages is for general guidance
purposes only and is not a complete or exhaustive explanation of
current Birth Laws.
How soon must I register the baby’s birth?
By law a baby’s birth must be registered within 42 days of the
date of birth.
Please contact your local Register Office before attending to
register, as you may need to make an appointment. Please allow 30
minutes for the registration.
Who should register the birth?
If the parents of the child are married to each other at the
time of the birth or conception, either parent can register the
birth. If the parents are not married to each other at the time of
the birth or conception, the father’s details can only be recorded
if both parents attend together, if this is not possible, please
telephone your local Register Office for advice. Unmarried
fathers can get equal Parental Responsibility for their
children.
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 by re-registration. Please contact your local Register Office
for more information.
Although the majority of births are registered by parents, in
exceptional circumstances the registration may be undertaken by
someone else. Please contact your local Register Office to
discuss.