Registering a Stillbirth

When a child is stillborn, it is necessary to register the stillbirth in the district in which it occurred. Registration needs to take place within 42 days of the stillbirth and may not take place more than 3 months after the stillbirth occurred.

The legal definition of a stillbirth

A stillborn child is legally defined as a child born after the 24^th week of pregnancy, who at any time after being born, did not breathe or show any other signs of life.

A child who breathed or showed signs of life is considered live born for registration purposes, irrespective of how early the child was born.

If you have suffered a stillborn bereavement, whether as a parent or another family member, then the Stillbirth Neonatal Death Society (SANDS) can offer a range of support. http://www.uk-sands.org/

How to register a stillbirth

A medical certificate of stillbirth will be issued by the doctor or midwife who either examined the body or who was present at the birth. This certificate is required to register the stillbirth at a register office. The information from the certificate is recorded in the stillbirth register which is then signed by the person registering the stillbirth.

If you prefer, you can go to any register office within England or Wales to give details of the stillbirth, although it will not be registered there. The details will be forwarded by post to the registration district where the baby was born and the registrar there will complete the registration using the information that you have provided. This is known as registering a stillbirth by declaration.

In exceptional circumstances registration can sometimes be carried out in the hospital where the birth took place.

Who can register a stillbirth?

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

If the parents of the child were not married to each other at the time of the birth then information about the father can be entered into the register only in the following circumstances:

The mother and father go to the register office and sign the stillbirth register together, or
Where the father is unable to go to the register office with the mother, the father can make a statutory declaration acknowledging his paternity which the mother must then produce to the registrar. The form enabling the father to make a statutory declaration can be obtained from any register office in England or Wales. Where the mother is unable to go the register office with the father, then she must make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father's paternity, which the father must then produce to the registrar, Again the document for the mother to make a statutory declaration can be obtained from any register office.

If details about the father are not recorded at the time of registration then it may be possible for the birth to be re-registered to include his details at a later date. It is best to speak to a registrar about this. Contact details for registration services can be found by using the link.

Other people who can register a stillbirth

Although the majority of stillbirths will be registered by the parents, sometimes, neither the mother nor father are able to do this. Under these circumstances registration can be completed by whichever of the following people is best placed to do so:

The occupier of the house or hospital where the child was stillborn
A person who was present at the stillbirth
A person who is responsible for the stillborn child
The person who found the stillborn child (where the date and place of the stillbirth are unknown)

What information is required to register a stillbirth?

When registering a stillbirth the registrar will ask you for specific pieces of information which will be entered into the birth registration record. The information required for each individual is as follows:

Child

The date and place of the stillbirth
The forename(s) and surname of the child (if the parents wish to name the stillborn child)
The sex of the child

Father (in cases where this information is to be entered into the register)

The father's forename(s) and surname
The father's date and place of birth
The father's occupation at the time of the stillbirth. If the father was not employed at the time the details of his last occupation will be recorded.

Mother

The mother's forename(s) and surname
The mother's maiden name if she is (or has been) married
The mother's date and place of birth
The mother's occupation at the time of the stillbirth. If the mother was not employed at the time then details of her last occupation will be recorded
The mother's usual address at the time of the stillbirth
The date of marriage (if married to the father of the stillborn child at the time of the stillbirth)
The number of previous children by the present husband or by ay former husband.

It is very important that the information recorded in the stillbirth register is correct, since mistakes are difficult to correct, The person registering the stillbirth should check the information to be recorded in the register very carefully.

Other people can support the parents at the time of registration, however the parents must register the stillbirth personally as a relative or friend cannot do it on their behalf.

What certificates are issued?

Certificate of registration

A certificate of registration is issued free of charge to the person registering the stillbirth. This certificate proves that the stillbirth has been registered. Any names given to the stillborn child and entered into the register are recorded ion the certificate of registration.

Stillbirth certificate

After the stillbirth has been registered one or more certificates can be purchased (either at the time of registration or at any time afterwards) by either the mother or father (the father's details would need to be recorded in the register in order for him to obtain a certificate). Details of the current fees and charges for certificates can be found on the fees and charges page. Any application for a certificate by someone who is not the mother or father should be directed to the registrar's office giving full details of the purpose for which the certificate is required. Contact details for registration services can be found by using the link provided.

Certificate for burial or cremation

The registrar will issue a certificate for the burial or cremation of the stillborn child. The certificate is usually passed to the funeral director who is making the arrangements. A funeral cannot take place until the certificate has been given to the burial authority or to the crematorium. If there is a delay in registration it is possible for a certificate for the burial to be issued before registration provided that the stillbirth does not need to be reported to the coroner. A certificate for cremation cannot be issued before the registration. For more information about deaths involving a coroner please use the link provided.

Making an appointment to register a stillbirth

Registering a stillbirth needs to be done in person. To make an appointment with a registrar please contact Registration Services using our contact details. 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 13:56:43
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