Registering a Birth

By law, registering the birth of a new baby must be done within 42 days of the birth taking place.

Where a birth can be registered

A birth must be registered in the area in which the birth took place. If the baby was born in Staffordshire then the birth of the baby can be registered at any registration office throughout the county. The registrar will take the details of the birth and enter them into the register which is then signed by the person registering the birth. A short version of the birth certificate will then be issued containing details about the baby's name, sex, date of birth and registration district. Form FP58 which enables you to register your child with a Doctor will also be issued. Further copies of the birth certificate can be purchased (both short and long versions). For details about how to do this please use the link to find out about obtaining copy certificates. For information about current fees for obtaining copy certificates, please refer to the fees and charges page.

If it is inconvenient to register the birth in the area where the birth took place then the information needed to register the birth can be given to a registrar in another district. The registrar will then record the details in the form of a declaration and will send the information to the registrar for the district where the birth took place. The registrar will then record the details into the birth register and issue a short version of the birth certificate which will be posted to you. No documents will be issued at the initial declaration.

Births that took place within the Stoke-on-Trent registration district

If your baby was born in the Stoke-on-Trent Registration district, for example if your baby was born at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire , you can make a declaration at any register office in the county who will take the details in the form of a declaration and send these to Stoke-on-Trent Registration Services, who will then post a short version of the birth certificate to you.

People who can register a birth

If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time of the birth (or conception) then either the mother or father may register the birth.

If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the child's birth (or conception) then the father's details may be entered into the birth register in the following circumstances:

If 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, it is possible for him to make a statutory declaration acknowledging his paternity which the mother must produce to the registrar (the forms to do this can be obtained from any register office). Statutory declarations need to be witnessed by a Solicitor for which a fee will usually be charged.
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 (the forms to do this can be obtained from any register office)
Where the mother or father has made a parental responsibility agreement or either one has obtained the appropriate court order the agreement can be produced to the registrar by either parent.

Unmarried couples should note that wherever there is joint registration, the named father will automatically be granted full parental rights over the child until he or she reaches 18 years of age.

If the father's details are not recorded in the birth register it may be possible to re-register the birth at a later date to include his details. Further information about this can be found by following the link to re-registering a birth.

Making an appointment to register a birth

Registering the birth of a child needs to be done in person. To make an appointment with a registrar please contact Registration Services using our contact details page. Alternatively, visit one of our register offices to make an appointment. Details of register office locations can be found by using the link provided.

Last Modified: 27/06/2007 13:08:58
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