How to register the birth of your baby
Every birth in England and Wales has to be registered within 42 days. This is a legal requirement.
Where can I register the birth of my baby?
If your baby was born in Hampshire, you can register the birth at any of the Hampshire Register Offices. Please telephone to make an appointment.
If you are unable to attend a Register Office in Hampshire, you can register the birth “by declaration” at any Register Office in England and Wales. A birth declaration is then sent to the Register Office in the area where your baby was born and the birth certificate/s and the form to register your baby with a doctor will be posted to you. If a declaration is made there will be a delay in receiving your certificate/s.
Who can register the birth?
The baby’s mother
The baby’s father, if he was married to the mother at the time of the birth
The mother and the father, jointly, if they were not married to each other at the time of the birth. Unmarried couples should be aware that wherever there is a joint registration, the named father will automatically be given full parental rights over the child. Mothers may wish to consider the legal implications of this prior to registering a birth. Please read more about parental responsibility on the General Register Office Website.
The mother, if she was not married to the father, may register alone leaving out the details of the father. A re-registration can enable the father’s details to be entered at a later date or following the marriage of the father and mother.
Either the mother or the father, if they were not married to each other at the time of birth, may attend alone bringing with them a Statutory Declaration of Parentage signed by the other parent and witnessed by a Solicitor, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Oaths or certain other designated people . Ask about this document at any register office.
In exceptional circumstances, if neither the mother nor the father is able, someone else may be permitted to register a birth. Staff at your local Register Office will be able to advise you.
What documents should I bring with me?
If possible, please bring along the ‘Congratulation’ letter that the hospital or midwife will have given you which provides the baby’s NHS number. This is the only document required.
Information you will be asked to provide when attending to register the birth of your baby
the date and place of the baby’s birth (if the birth is one of twins, triplets etc, the time of each baby's birth will also be needed), the sex, the forename(s) and surname in which it is intended that the baby will be brought up.
information about the mother: your full names, any previous names, including maiden name if married. Date and place of birth and usual address, employment before or at the time of the baby’s birth. Date of marriage, if married to the baby's father at the time of the birth, and whether or not you have any other children.
information about the father, where applicable: your full names, date and place of birth, and details of employment at the time of the birth, or if not employed, your last occupation.
It is important that the information recorded in the birth register is 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 can be difficult to put right after you have signed the register. You should, therefore, check the particulars in the entry very carefully before you sign.