How to register a birth in England and Wales

A birth in England and Wales must be registered officially. ONLYWAY NEWS has gathered the rules and fees from the government portal GOV.UK so you do not miss the deadline or overpay for a certificate.

How long do you have to register?

42 days from the day the child is born. GOV.UK states plainly that all births in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must be registered within 42 days.

Where is a birth registered?

At the local register office for the area where the baby was born, or at the hospital before the mother leaves. The hospital can tell you whether it handles registration on site.

If you cannot get to the register office for the area of birth, you can use another register office, which will pass your details to the correct office.

Who can register a birth?

It depends on whether the parents are married or in a civil partnership. If the parents were married or in a civil partnership when the baby was born or conceived, either parent can register the birth on their own, and both can be named on the certificate.

If the parents are not married, both parents' details are included only if one of these happens: they sign the birth register together; one parent completes a statutory declaration of parentage form and the other takes the signed form to the registration; or there is a court document, such as a court order, giving the father parental responsibility.

What if only the mother attends?

An unmarried mother can register the child without the father, in which case his details will not appear on the certificate. It may be possible to add them later by applying for the re-registration of the child's birth.

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Same-sex male couples follow a separate route: they must get a parental order from the court before being registered as parents.

If the parents cannot attend, the birth can also be registered by someone who was present at the birth, someone responsible for the child, or a member of the hospital's administrative staff.

How much does a birth certificate cost?

A copy of the certificate can be ordered from the General Register Office. The standard service costs £12.50 and is sent 4 days after you apply. The priority service costs £38.50 and, if you order by 4pm, is sent the next working day.

If you do not have a GRO index reference number, each search of the archive costs an extra £3.50, and the certificate is sent 15 working days after you apply.

The essentials in a minute

• Deadline to register: 42 days from the birth.
• Register at the office for the area of birth, or at the hospital before leaving.
• Married parents: either can attend alone; unmarried parents need a joint signature, a statutory declaration or a court document.
• Certificate: £12.50 standard, £38.50 priority, +£3.50 per search without a GRO reference.

Always check the current forms and steps on GOV.UK before visiting the register office.