The birth of your child must be registered in the district where your baby was born within 42 days of the birth.
How do I register a birth?
You will need to make an appointment at a register office to inform the registrar of your baby‘s date and place of birth (and the time of birth if you had twins or triplets), sex and full name as well as your own details.
If you can‘t get to the office in the area where your baby was born, you can go to another Register Office and they will send your declaration to the correct place. You will have to pay for the certificate (if applicable) by postal order or debit/credit card to the Register Office where the birth details will be held.
You can find your nearest, or any, register office on GOV.UK (external website).
Making an appointment
You can make an appointment by contacting a register office.
Find out how to contact a Register Office.
How much does it cost?
Birth certificates cost £11
Who can register a birth?
One or both of the parents can register a birth. If the parents are married at the time of conception, either the mother or father can register both their details on their own.
If the parents are not married, both sets of details can be included if they sign the register together, one person provides a declaration of parentage form signed by the other or a parent has a court order giving the father parental responsibility.
If the mother isn’t married to the father, she can register the birth on her own and the father’s details will not be included on the certificate. It is possible to add the father’s details later on by completing a re-registration form, and attending a Register Office to reregister the birth.
Find out how to get copy certificates.