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How to register a birth

Why does a birth have to be registered?

An Act of Parliament called the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 placed a legal duty on parents to register every newborn baby in England and Wales.

When does the birth have to be registered?

The law allows parents 42 days in which to register a baby’s birth.

Who can register the birth?

If the mother and father were married to each other at the time of the baby’s birth, either parent may register.

If the mother and father were not married to each other at the time of the baby’s birth, the mother alone may register the birth, but the father’s details can only be entered in the register if he is also present at the time of the registration.

Alternatively the mother and father may both make a statutory declaration. For further information contact the Register Office on: 023 92 829041.

Mothers please note

If you are not married to baby’s father you are not normally obliged to have the father’s details included in the entry. If the father’s details are not entered at the time of registration it may be possible for this to be done at a later date. For further information please contact the Registrar who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

An important change for unmarried couples

The law has changed to make it easier for unmarried fathers to get equal parental responsibility. From 1st December 2003, all you have to do is for both parents to register the birth of your baby together.

Parental responsibility for your child gives you important legal rights as well as responsibilities. Without it, you don’t have any right to be involved in decisions such as where they live, their education, religion or medical treatment. With parental responsibility, you are treated in law as the child’s parent, and you take equal responsibility for bringing them up.

Unlike mothers and married fathers, if you are not married to your baby’s mother you do not automatically have parental responsibility for them.

Before this change, you could only gain parental responsibility by later marrying the child’s mother, signing an official agreement with the mother or getting a court order. You can still get responsibility in these ways – you might want to think about this if you have other children.

Need help to decide what to do?

Parentline Plus has a free helpline where you can talk through the options and ask for advice. Call them on Parentline Plus 0808 800 2222 or Textphone 0800 783 6783.

Where can I register?

The birth has to be registered in the registration district where it took place. So if you are planning to have your baby at St.Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth you have a number of options. 

You may register your baby’s birth by telephoning 023 9275 6597 to make an appointment to see the Registrar at the Register Office for Portsmouth which is located in Milldam House, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth. The office opening hours are 9.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

If it would be difficult to attend our office you may go to any other Register Office in England and Wales to give information for the registration. The birth will not be registered there, but this information will be posted to us and once we have registered the birth your documents will be sent to you immediately. All surrounding area offices also operate an appointment system, so please telephone first.

What information will the Registrar ask for?

Baby

The date and place of the baby’s birth.
Whether the baby is a boy or a girl.
If the birth is one of twins, triplets etc then the time of each baby’s birth will be required.
The forenames and surname with which it is intended that the baby will be brought up.

Father (Where these details are to be entered in the register)

His forenames and surname
His date and place of birth
His occupation at the time of baby’s birth or, if he was not working at that time, his previous occupation.

Mother Her forename and surname. Her maiden surname will also be required if she is, or has been, married.
Her date and place of birth
Her usual address at the date of birth
Her occupation (optional). If she has been employed at any time before the birth this occupation can be entered if she wishes.

General

If the parents were married to each other at the time of the birth the registrar will ask for the date of the marriage.
The number of children the mother has had by her present husband and by any former husband.
If English is not the first language of the parents and they would like someone to help them with the registration, they should feel free to ask a relative or friend to accompany them to the Register Office.

But please remember that one of the parents must register the birth personally – they cannot ask a relative or friend to attend instead of them.

What certificates will I be issued with?

After the birth has been registered you will be given a short birth certificate which is issued free of charge, together with a pink form which contains the baby’s National Health Service number.

The short certificate meets most ordinary needs but a full birth certificate, which is a complete copy of the entry in the register, is also available. The Registrar will advise you of the current fee.

Contact details:

The Register Office
Milldam House,
Burnaby Road,
Portsmouth
PO1 3AF

Telephone 023 9275 6597 to make an appointment

The office opening hours are 9.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

 

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