When and where to register
Births in England and Wales must be registered within 42 days of
the date of birth in the district in which the birth occurred.
Please contact Peterborough Register Office for an
appointment which will be offered to you within 5 days of making
contact. If it is not possible for you to attend in person you may
visit any
other register office to sign a declaration, however using this
procedure will cause delay.
How to register
You will need to make an appointment. If the baby’s
natural mother and father are married when baby is born then either
of you may attend to register. If the baby’s natural mother
and father parents are not married when the baby is born and you
wish the father’s details to be included in the register, then both
of you must attend the office
together.
If the father’s details are not entered in the register at
the time of the registration, there is a procedure for requesting
they are added at a later date. If you are unsure about your legal
status as a couple further advice is
available. It is not necessary to bring the baby to
the
appointment.
What happens during the registration?
Report to the receptionist on arrival. You will
be shown to a comfortable waiting area. Your
private interview with the registrar will take
approximately half an hour. The registrar will ask questions about
the baby and both parents and will enter the details in a computer
and complete the register. You will be given two
opportunities to check that the information is correct
.
You will be asked to sign that you agree with the information
as recorded. It is an offence to give false
information.
What information will be needed?
- You will be asked the following:
- Date and place of birth, also the time if you are registering
twins etc.
- Baby’s forename, surname and sex
- Baby’s parents’ names, dates and place of birth
- Baby’s parents’ occupations
- Baby’s parents’ address(es)
- Baby’s mother’s maiden name
- Parent’s date of birth
- Date of the baby’s parents’ marriage and number of previous
children
Birth certificate
A free short certificate showing the baby’s name, date and place
of birth only, will be given to you by the registrar. The registrar
will also be able to provide a full certificate, including parents
details, for £3.50 each at the time of the registration.