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Register a birth

When to register a birth

You are legally required to register your baby's birth within 42 days of their date of birth.

Babies born in Peterborough

If your baby was born in Peterborough, you must register the birth at Peterborough Register Office. You will need to book an appointment (see below).

You will be able to purchase birth certificates for your baby at your appointment.

If it is not convenient for you to come to Peterborough Register Office (for example, if you don't live in Peterborough), you can book an appointment at any other Register Office in England and Wales to make a declaration about the birth. They will then send us the necessary information so that we can register the birth without you being here. You will then need to order the birth certificate(s) from us, which we can send to you by post. Using the declaration procedure may cause a delay in you receiving the birth certificate(s).

Babies born outside Peterborough

If your baby was born outside of Peterborough, we cannot register the birth here. However, you can make a birth declaration with us. We will send it to the Register Office for the district where the birth took place. They will then register your baby's birth without you being there.

You will need to order birth certificates from the Register Office for the district in which your baby was born. We cannot provide them from Peterborough Register Office.

If you would like to use the birth declaration service, you will need to book an appointment with us. We do not charge for this service. Using the declaration procedure may cause a delay in you receiving the birth certificate(s).

Who can register the birth

Please choose one of the options below to find out who is responsible for registering a birth.

Parents who are married or in a civil partnership

If a couple were married or in a civil partnership on the date the baby was born, either parent can register the birth on their own. However, both parents are welcome to attend. We will record details of both parents in the registration.

Parents who are not married or in a civil partnership

We can record the details of both parents if they attend together to register the birth.

If only one parent can attend, it may be possible to register to show both parents' details by using a statutory declaration, court order, or parental responsibility agreement. If you plan to use one of these documents, please contact us in advance so that we can discuss the requirements.

A father who is not married to, or in a civil partnership with, the mother cannot register by himself without one of the documents referred to above.

A mother who is not married to, or in a civil partnership with, the father can register by herself without any of the documents above. However, the father's details would not be included on the registration. It may be possible to re-register the birth to add the father's details at a later date.

Parents who are married or in a civil partnership

If the mother and her female partner were married or civil partners at the time of the fertility treatment, either parent can register the birth on their own. Both parents are welcome to attend. We will record details of both parents on the registration.

Parents who are not married or in a civil partnership

When a mother is not married or in a civil partnership with her partner, her partner can be registered as the child’s second parent if all the criteria below are met:

  • The fertility treatment took place in the UK at a licensed clinic
  • There is a ‘parenthood agreement’ in place - i.e. both women consent to the mother's partner being regarded as the second parent
  • Both parents attend together at a registration appointment - if both parents cannot attend together, please contact us in advance to discuss this.

If the parents cannot register the birth, then in exceptional circumstances, another person may be able to do this. However, we would always allow the parents the statutory 42 days to complete the registration before looking at alternative options.

Other people who may be able to register a birth can include:

  • Someone who was present at the birth
  • Someone who is responsible for the child
  • A member of the administrative staff at the hospital where the child was born

However, if this applies to you, please discuss this with us before making an appointment.

Book an appointment

You must have an appointment to register a birth. We will not be able to see you without a pre-booked appointment. We only offer weekday appointments (excluding bank holidays).

If you need to register a stillbirth, please phone us rather than using our online appointment booking service.

You can also book your appointment by calling 01733 864646 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

Visit our Peterborough Register Office page for the address and information on parking, facilities and accessibility etc.

We use rooms on the ground floor and first floor of the building to conduct registration appointments. The first floor is only accessible by stairs. If you have access requirements, please let us know in advance so we can make sure your appointment takes place in a ground floor room.

If you have three or more babies to register, please contact us directly about an appointment, rather than booking online. This is because you may need a longer timeslot for your appointment.

Call us on 01733 864646 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

At your appointment, we will ask you questions about yourself and your child.

If you are married or in a civil partnership, at least one parent at the appointment will need to be able to speak and understand English.

If you are not married or in a civil partnership then you will both need to speak and understand English. You cannot answer or interpret for each other.

If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to bring a third person along to help interpret.

If the registrar has concerns about your understanding of English, the appointment may have to be abandoned and re-booked.

If you are running more than five minutes late, you will need to re-book your appointment. Please call us on 01733 864646 (phone line open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

If you can no longer attend your appointment, please let us know by calling 01733 864646 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

Sands is a charity that supports anyone affected by stillbirth, pregnancy loss or the death of a baby. They offer a national helpline, a network of support groups, an online form, and bereavement support resources.

Visit the Sands website.

What happens at the appointment

Your appointment will take place with one of our registrars and last approximately 30 minutes.

Please arrive at least five minutes before the start of your appointment.

What to bring to your appointment

Documentation for the baby:

  • Either the baby's red book or other paperwork from the hospital or midwife showing the baby's NHS number

Documentation for the parent(s):

  • Photo identification for each parent, such as a passport or driving licence

Information you need when registering a birth

  • The baby's date and place of birth (also the time of birth if registering twins, triplets etc)
  • The baby's forename(s), surname and sex
  • The names of the baby's parents (and any previous names used before / since the baby's birth)
  • The dates and places of birth of the baby's parents
  • The current / most recent occupations of the baby's parents
  • The home address(es) of the baby's parents on the day of the birth registration
  • The home address of the baby's mother on the day the baby was born
  • The maiden name of the baby's mother (if applicable)
  • The date of the parents' marriage or civil partnership (if applicable)
  • The number of any previous children (if applicable)

Checking the information is correct

Before the registration is locked in, we will ask you to check that all of the information recorded in the register is true and correct. By signing the register, you will be confirming that this is the case. Once signed, the register entry becomes a legal document. It is an offence to give false information.

Any mistakes noticed after you have signed the register will require a lengthy and expensive correction process. This makes it even more important to check everything carefully at the appointment. Please see below for information on how to correct a birth registration.

Certificates and fees

There are two types of birth certificate:

  • The short version - which contains only the baby's details
  • The full version - which also contains the parents' details

For babies born in Peterborough, you can purchase both types of certificate from us at the end of your appointment. They both cost £12.50 each. We are a cashless office, so can only accept card or other contactless payment.

If you are making a declaration for a birth that took place outside of Peterborough, we cannot issue you with birth certificates. You will need to contact the Register Office for the district where the birth took place.

You can also buy extra copies of birth certificates.

Corrections, name changes and re-registration

Find out how to correct a birth registration.

Find out how to re-register a birth after the parents marry or form a civil partnership, or when no father was recorded on the original registration. It is also possible to change your child's forenames within 12 months of the date of their birth registration.

Last updated: 28 April 2026
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