Registration Of Births

Every birth in England or Wales must be registered in the district in which it takes place within 42 days of the date of birth.  A registrar from the local authority completes the registration in the presence of a parent or guardian and issues a birth certificate. If the mother and father were married to each other at the time of the babies birth, either parent may register. If the mother and father were not married to each other at the time of the babies birth, the mother alone may register the birth, but the fathers details can only be entered in the register if he is also present at the time of the registration.