The Law Surrounding Registering The Birth of a Child

For first time parents there are many things that have to be done in order to have things just right; one of them is registering the birth of their child (or children); here we look at what information is needed by law and why.

Why is it Important to Register The Birth of a Child?

When you have given birth to your son or daughter it is important to make sure that their birth is registered in order that they are recognised and identifiable on government registers and the likes. It is also important to register the birth of your child so that he or she may have their chosen name and also so that both parents - if they are known - can be listed on the birth certificate. This allows for parental responsibility to be shared without any need for legal intervention.

When Do We Have To Register The Birth of Our Child?

Your child's birth should be registered no later than forty-two days after the birth has taken place. This means in actual fact that you have just over five weeks from the birth to make your registry entry at your nearest Office of Births, Death and Registers; you should be aware that it is preferred that you register the child's birth at the Registrar's office in the district the birth took place.

Who Can Register The Birth of Our Child?

The birth can be registered by any of the following - which are known as an 'informant' in the eyes of the law:

• The child's mother and father if they are married
• The child's mother if she is not married
• Any other individual who has been pre-selected and confirmed

It is worth noting however that the last of the aforementioned list happens very rarely and normally it is either both parents or the mother unless the father (if they are unmarried) agrees to have his details placed on the register in which case he must attend at the same time as the mother.

What Information Do We Have To Provide on the Birth Certificate?

You must provide the following information on the birth certificate in order for it to be completed correctly and in line with the legal requirements.

• The date of your child's birth
• The place of birth
• Gender
• Forename, middle name and surname that the child is to be known by
• Name, date and place of birth and occupation of the father
• Name, date and place of birth and occupation of the mother

The above mentioned information is essential to complete the birth certificate correctly and it is important that you take the time to make sure all the information you provide the registrar with is correct.

Again registering the birth of your child is a happy experience and one that indeed many people look forward to but there is a more serious side to the proceedings so every attempt should be made to ensure that all information and details relating to both the birth and to the birth parents is accurate at the time of registering.

In rare instances mistakes are made when registering the birth especially with the spelling of names etc so you should ensure that all spellings are right in order to avoid any mistakes as some mistakes - especially those of a spelling nature cannot be corrected.

Related Articles in the 'Children & The Law' Category...

• At What Age is a Child Prosecutable as an Adult?
• Child Curfew Schemes
• Community Sentences
• Curfew Notices
• Gambling Laws Concerning Children
• How CAFCASS Officers Help Children
• Sale of Alcohol and Tobacco to Children
• Sale of Dangerous Substances
• Specific Issue Orders for Parents
• Under Age Drinking
• Young Offenders