Registering and naming your baby

Your baby must be registered in the district where the birth took place within 42 days of the birth in England and Wales. This can often be done at the hospital before the mother goes home, or at your local Registration Office.

All of our Registration Offices operate an appointment only service. To make an appointment please phone 0845 603 2859 between the hours of 08.30 - 17.00 Monday to Friday or book your Birth registration appointment online. 

This page explains when you can register and what information the Registrar will require of you.

When can I register baby's birth?

Your baby's birth must be registered within 42 days (six weeks) of the date of birth.

Where can I register the birth?

If the birth occurred in Worcestershire parents can register at any Registration Office in the Worcestershire area. This applies even if the mother does not have her usual address in Worcestershire.

If it is not convenient for you to visit the Register Office for the district in which the baby was born you can go to any other Register Office in England and Wales to make a declaration of the particulars required for the registration. The Registrar will then send those details to that Register Office. In that case, any birth certificates you require will be sent to you by post. Please note that birth certificates can only be obtained from the Register Office in the district where the birth took place (not where the declaration was made).

For a list of Registration Offices in Worcestershire go to Registration Offices.

To prevent unnecessary waiting all offices operate an appointment system. Please telephone 0845 6032859 if you would like to make one.

Who can register the birth?

It is usual for the baby's mother to register the birth. If however the baby's mother is married to the baby's father at the time of the birth, it is equally possible for him to register.

If the baby's mother and father are not married, the father's details can be entered into the register if both parents attend together to register the birth. If this is not possible, please telephone a Register Office for advice.

What information will I need to supply to the Registrar?

Baby

• The date and place of baby's birth.
  
• If the birth is one of twins, triplets etc., then the time of each baby's birth will be needed whether the baby is a boy or a girl, and the forename(s) and surname in which the baby will be brought up.
  

Father (Where these details are to be entered in the register)

• Forename(s) and surname
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation at the time of baby's birth or, if not employed, the occupation last followed
  

Mothers

• Forename(s) and surname, and any surnames which may have been used before marriage
• Date and place of birth
• Address
• Occupation. If the mother has been working at any time prior to the birth her occupation can be entered into the register if required
• Date of marriage, if applicable
• The number of previous children by the present and any former husband
  

Certificates

After registration you will be given a short birth certificate free of charge.  Further copies of short and full certificates can be obtained for a fee, either at the time of registration or at a later date..

Where to get further advice

If you are still uncertain of how to proceed with registering the baby's birth, please contact 0845 6032859

Information about changing your baby's name is available on this website.

This page was last reviewed 14 September 2012 at 8:40.
The page is next due for review 13 March 2014.