Where and when to register a birth
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. The person registering the birth gives information for the registration to the registrar. The information, which is recorded on computer, is also recorded in the birth register and the person registering the birth signs the record.
If it is inconvenient to go to the district where the birth took place, the information for the registration may be given to a registrar in another district within England and Wales. The registrar will record the particulars on a form of declaration and send it to the registrar for the district where the birth occurred. The registrar who receives the declaration will enter the information in the birth register. Certificates of the birth, which may be ordered and paid for at the time of making the declaration, will be posted by the registrar for the district where the birth took place.
The baby does not need to be brought into the Register Office to show that the birth has taken place. The local health authority will notify us of the birth.
If the birth occurred in the Bradford and Keighley Registration District it can be registered either at the Bradford and Keighley Register Office, Bradford or at the Town Hall, Keighley or the out-stations at Shipley, Ilkley or Airedale General Hospital
An appointment only system is in place for the registration of births at all of our offices.
Who can register a birth?
Where the parents are married to each other
If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time of the birth (or conception), either the mother or the father may register the birth.
- The mother and father go to the register office and sign the birth register together.
- Where the father is unable to go to the register office with the mother, the father may make a statutory declaration acknowledging paternity, which the mother must produce to the registrar.
(This form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales). - Where the mother is unable to go to the register office with the father, the mother may make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father's paternity, which the father must produce to the registrar. (This form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales).
- Where the mother and father have made a parental responsibility agreement or either has obtained an appropriate court order, the agreement or order should be produced to the registrar by either parent.
If the father's particulars are not recorded in the birth register, it may be possible for the birth to be re-registered to include his details at a later date. You can obtain further information about how to apply for re-registration of a birth by contacting the registrar.
Other people who may register births
Although the majority of births are registered by the parents, sometimes neither the mother nor the father is able to do this. In these circumstances the registrar will arrange for the registration to be completed by whichever of the following people is best able to do so:
- The occupier of the house or hospital where the child was born
- A person who was present at the birth
- A person who is in charge of the child
Information to be supplied for the registration of a birth
Information about the child:
- Date and place of birth; if the birth is one of twins, triplets etc, the time of each child's birth will be needed.
- Sex of the child
- The forename(s) and surname in which it is intended that the child will be brought up.
Information about the father if his details are to be entered in the register:
- Forename(s) and surname
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation at the time of the child's birth, or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation.
Information about the mother:
- Forename(s) and surname
- Maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation at the time of the child's birth, or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
- Usual address at the date of birth
- Date of marriage, if married to the child's father at the time of the birth
- Number of previous children by the present husband and by any former husband.
It is most important that the information recorded in the birth register is correct. If any mistake is made, it will give the person who registered the birth some trouble to have it put right. The person registering the birth should check the information to be recorded in the register very carefully before signing.
If the person registering the birth has difficulty in communicating in English he or she should bring along a relative or friend to act as interpreter. However, the parents must register the birth personally as a relative or friend cannot register instead of them.
What certificates will be issued?
After a birth has been registered, a short birth certificate showing the name, sex, date and district of birth is issued free of charge. The short certificate meets many ordinary needs but a full birth certificate, which is a complete copy of the register entry, is also available and this would be required to obtain a passport. Further certificates may be bought at the time of registration or any time afterwards.
Further advice about registering a birth
If you would like further advice about registering a birth or would like to ask specific questions, please telephone the office on 01274 432151 and ask to speak to a registrar.
