Registering the birth of a baby
- When to register baby's birth
- Where to register the birth
- Who can register the birth
- What information is needed by the registrar
- What the parent(s) will receive
- Where to get further advice
By law a baby's birth must be registered within 42 days (six
weeks) of the date of birth. It is necessary to contact Peterborough Register Office to make an
appointment, which will usually last 20 to 30 minutes.
The birth will be registered in the registration district
in which the birth occurred. If it is not convenient to visit
the register office for that district a declaration of the
particulars required for the registration can be made at any other
register office in England and Wales. In that case, any birth
certificates and the form issued to register the baby with a family
doctor will be sent by post.
It is usual for the mother to register the birth. If the
mother was married to the baby's father at the time of the birth,
he may register the birth without the mother being present.
However, if the mother and the baby's father were not married
at the time of the birth, the father's details can only be entered
into the register if either both parents attend together to
register the birth or if a statutory declaration or a relevant
court order has been made.
If the mother was not married to the baby's father at the time
of the birth, she is not normally obliged to have the father's
details included in the register. If the father's details are not
entered at the time of registration, it may be possible to have
your baby's birth re-registered at a later
date.
If English is not the first language of the parent(s) and they
would like someone to help with the registration, they should ask a
friend or relative to come with them to the register office. It may
also be helpful to bring the baby's parents' passports and the
birth certificates of any previous children.
Please remember that neither friends nor relatives are able to
register on behalf of the parents.
The interview with the registrar will be in private. The
registrar will enter the details given onto the computer and then
enter them into the birth register. The parent(s) will be asked to
check the information carefully and to sign that it is
correct.
It is important the information recorded in the register is
correct. If any mistake is made it may be difficult to correct
it.
Information required about the baby:
- the date and place of baby's birth. If the birth is one of twins, triplets etc.then the time of each baby's birth will be needed
- whether the baby is a boy or girl
- the forename(s) and surname in which it is intended that the baby will be brought up. See the naming baby page for additional information on baby names
Information required about the father (where the details are
to be entered into the register):
- forename(s) and surname
- date and place of birth.
- occupation at the time of baby's birth or, if not employed, the occupation last followed
Information required about the mother:
- forename(s) and surname, and any other surnames used including maiden name
- date and place of birth
- address at the time of baby's birth
- occupation - if the mother has been working at any time prior to the birth, her occupation may be entered into the register if desired
- date of marriage if applicable and the number of previous children
What the parent(s) will receive
After registration a short birth certificate will be issued
free of charge showing the child's name, sex and date of birth.
Further copies of short certificates can be obtained for a fee of
£3.50 each at the time of registration or at a fee of
£5.50 at a later date.
A certificate is also available from the registrar which
records details of the parent(s). This is called a standard
certificate and will be required if your child ever wishes to apply
for a passport. At the time of registration this certificate costs
£3.50 and can be obtained at a later date for
£7.00.
The registrar will also issue a form that needs to be
completed and handed to the family doctor.
All certificates purchased are Crown Copyright
and should not be photocopied.
If you are still uncertain of how to proceed with registering
baby's birth, please contact Peterborough
Register Office on 01733 566323.
Other useful websites: