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. To
register a birth at Peterborough Register Officer please use our
online appointment booking system, or alternatively contact the
Peterborough Register Office for an appointment. 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 only the baby’s name, date and
place of birth will be given to you by the registrar. The registrar
will also be able to provide a full certificate (which includes
parents' details) for £4.00 each at the time of the registration.
The fees for certificates after the time of registration are
£7.00 if issued from a current register or
£10.00 if issued from a completed register.
Payments can be made by cash or credit/debit cards (payment by
credit/debit cards is subject to a £1 administration charge).