by Simon Wright

Created on: April 24, 2010

Things can often be a bit chaotic when a new baby arrives. However, as well as bringing your baby home and getting them into a feeding routine, you will also need to register their birth. This article provides guidance on what this involves.

Legal requirement to register a birth:

It’s a legal requirement for parents to register the birth of their child. In Scotland, the registration must happen within 21 days of the birth, whilst England, Wales, and Northern Ireland give a little more leeway, requiring registration within 42 days.

You will need to have registered your baby’s birth in order to claim child benefit and to register them with your NHS health practice. The registration will also lead to the creation of a birth certificate, which is an important document in confirming UK citizenship.

Who can register the baby’s birth:

Where a couple are married either the mother or father can register the birth, but they must present their marriage certificate. If the parents aren’t married, the father can still register the birth provided that he “jointly signs the register with the mother” and he and the mother sign a form to confirm that he’s the father.

There are also provisions for other people to register the birth if the parents are unable to register the birth. In such circumstances, consult with your midwife and/or with the registration office.

Language of registration:

The UK is a multi ethnic nation but births must be registered in English. The only exception to this is that those living in Wales may choose to register the birth both in English and Welsh.

Step by step guide to registering a birth:

On the day of the birth, your hospital midwife will fill out a form stating the date and time of birth and the baby’s birth weight. They will hand you this form, together with a leaflet detailing where your local registration offices can be found. The leaflet also outlines the documents that you need to bring with you when you go to register the baby.

If you and your birth partner are married, then you will need to bring your marriage certificate. Additionally, the leaflet states that you should bring your birth certificate and the birth certificate of your spouse. Although the leaflet doesn’t make this clear, a passport or other form of identification will suffice if you don’t have access to your birth certificate.

The leaflet will also detail the opening hours of your local registration office but it’s

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