Registering the Birth of a Child

When to Register Your Baby's Birth

In England and Wales, you must register your baby's birth within 42 days. In Scotland, the deadline is 21 days. This applies to all births, whether at home or in hospital.

Registration normally takes place at your local register office. Some hospitals have a registrar on site, which means you may be able to register before you leave. Ask hospital staff whether this service is available.

If you cannot register in the district where your baby was born, you can make a declaration at another register office. They will send the details to the correct office to complete the registration.

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Why Registration Matters

Registering the birth establishes your child's identity and legal status. Without it, they have no official record in law.

After registration, you will receive a birth certificate. This document serves as proof of identity and will be needed throughout your child's life for things like applying for a passport, starting school, and claiming child benefit.

Both parents can be named on the birth certificate. For unmarried fathers in England and Wales, being named on the birth certificate is one way to acquire parental responsibility, but only for births registered after 1 December 2003. Other routes include marrying the mother, entering a parental responsibility agreement, or obtaining a court order.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Who Can Register the Birth

The rules on who can register depend on whether the parents are married or in a civil partnership.

• If the parents are married or in a civil partnership, either parent can register the birth alone.
• If the parents are not married, the mother can register alone, but only her details will appear on the certificate unless the father also attends or provides a statutory declaration.

For unmarried parents who want both names on the certificate, both should attend the registration together. If one parent cannot be there, the absent parent can complete a statutory declaration form in advance. This signed document confirms their details and must be handed to the registrar by the attending parent during the appointment.

Adding or Correcting Details Later

If the father's name was not included at the time of registration, it may be possible to add it later through re-registration. Both parents will usually need to agree to this process.

Correcting errors on a birth certificate, such as a spelling mistake, is also possible. The register office provides guidance on the required documents for corrections.

For current information on the registration process, including what to bring and how to book an appointment, visit GOV.UK. Your local council website will also have details of register office locations and opening times.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Parental Rights Checker lets you check your legal rights as a parent on education, health and welfare decisions. Try it now →