Births

Register Office

The Broxbourne Register Office is at:

Registering the birth

Your baby's birth must be registered within 42 days of the date of the birth. The birth must be registered in the registration district in which the birth occurred. If it is not convenient for you to visit the Register Office for that district, you can go to any other office in England and Wales.

A birth declaration will be taken and sent to the Register Office in the district where your baby was born. The birth certificate and the form enabling you to register your baby with the doctor will then be sent to you by post. Any other copies of the birth certificate you need in the future must come from the district in which the birth occurred.

At most Register Offices an appointment is required, please telephone and arrange a time which is suitable for you.

Who can register the birth?

• The mother of the baby.
• The father of the baby if he was married to the mother at the time of the birth.
• The mother and the father, jointly, if they are not married to each other at the time of the birth.
• The mother or the father, attending alone, if they were not married at the time of birth, bringing with them an appropriate document signed by the other parent. Inquire about these documents at any Register Office.
• The mother, if she is not married to the father, may register alone leaving out the details of the father. A re-registration can enter the father's details at a later date or following the marriage of the father and mother.
• Under special circumstances, someone else may attend to register a birth but you would need to ask the advice of the registrar first.

It is most important that the information recorded in the register should be correct. If any mistake is made, for example in the spelling of a name or surname or in the description of the father's or mother's occupation, it will give you some trouble to have it put right after you have signed the register. Therefore, you should check the particulars in the entry very carefully before you sign.

What information will I have to supply for the registration of the baby's birth?

Baby

• The date and place of your baby's birth. If the baby is one of twins, triplets or any multiple births, the time of each baby's birth will be required.
• Whether it is a girl or a boy.
• The forenames and surnames in which it is intended that your baby will be brought up.

Mother

• Her forenames and surname, and her maiden surname if she is or has been married.
• Her place of birth.
• Her usual address at the date of the birth.
• Her occupation is optional. If she has been employed at any time before the birth this occupation can be entered if she wishes.

Father (where these details are to be entered into the register)

• His forenames and surname.
• His place of birth.
• His occupation at the time of the birth, or if not employed at that time, his last occupation.

Is any other information required?

Further particulars are required under the Population (Statistics) Acts but will not be entered in the register. This confidential information will be used for the preparation of statistical information by the Registrar General.

• The father's date of birth, where his name is entered in the register.
• The mother's date of birth.
• The month and year of the marriage, when the baby's parents are married to each other at the time of the birth.
• Whether the mother has been married more than once.
• Number of mother's previous live children and stillbirths (excluding birth or births now being registered).

What certificates will I be issued with?

After the birth has been registered you will be given a short birth certificate, which is issued free of charge. The certificate shows only the baby's name, surname, date of birth and district of registration.You will also be given a form with the National Health Service Number on, so the baby can be registered at the doctor's surgery.

Also available, at a small fee, are full birth certificates which are a full copy of the entry in the register. Many people purchase a full copy at time of registration as copies requested later may cost more. Additional copies of both types of certificates can be purchased.

If you wish to purchase certificates when registering the birth by declaration, the fee must be paid by cheque or postal order as money cannot be sent by post.

Should you require clarification of any of the points raised, or if you are uncertain of how to proceed with the registration of the baby's birth, please telephone your local Register Office, the staff will gladly give you further help and advice. Please remember only the people listed in section three can register a birth, you cannot ask a friend or relative to attend instead.