Registering Your Baby's Birth in the UK: Everything You Need to Know

Registering your baby's birth is a legal requirement in the UK, but many new parents are unsure of the rules — particularly around who must register, what happens when parents are unmarried, and how to ensure both parents appear on the birth certificate. Here is a clear, practical guide.

The 42-Day Deadline

In England and Wales, a birth must be registered within 42 days of the baby being born. In Scotland, the deadline is 21 days. In Northern Ireland, it is also 42 days.

Failing to register within the deadline is an offence under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, though prosecutions are rare and the primary consequence is practical: without a birth certificate, you cannot apply for a passport, access certain benefits, or register the child for school.

If you are unable to register within the deadline due to illness or other exceptional circumstances, contact your local register office to explain the situation.

Where to Register

Registration must be done in person at a local register office (sometimes called a registry office). You can register at:

• The register office for the area where the birth took place, or
• Any register office in England and Wales (if this is more convenient)

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, registration must be done in the district where the birth took place.

Many register offices now offer appointments for birth registration, and some also allow registration at the hospital in the days immediately following birth. Check your local register office's website for availability.

Who Must Register

In England and Wales, the duty to register falls on:

• The mother, if she is alive
• The father, if married to the mother
• Either parent, if they are unmarried (see below)
• The occupier of the premises where the birth took place, or
• A person present at the birth

In most cases, one or both parents will attend. The rules differ significantly depending on whether the parents are married.

Married Parents

If the parents are married to each other (including same-sex marriages) at the time of birth, either parent can register the birth alone, and both parents will automatically be added to the birth certificate. You do not both need to attend.

Note that this applies to marriages in place at the time of birth — it does not apply to parents who were married, separated, and had a child during or after separation. If in doubt about your specific circumstances, contact the register office.

Unmarried Parents: Getting Both Parents on the Certificate

If the parents are not married to each other, the father's or second parent's details will only appear on the birth certificate if specific steps are taken. An unmarried father or second parent is not automatically registered.

There are three ways to add an unmarried second parent to the birth certificate:

1. Both parents attend the register office together. This is the simplest route. Both parents attend and both sign the register. The second parent's details are added and they acquire parental responsibility automatically.

2. A statutory declaration. If one parent cannot attend, the absent parent can complete a statutory declaration (form LA2 or equivalent) confirming the second parent's details. This must be witnessed by a solicitor or a commissioner for oaths. The parent who attends then presents this declaration at the register office.

3. A court order. In limited circumstances, a court order naming the father or second parent can be used. This is typically a last resort.

Parental responsibility is acquired by an unmarried father or second parent upon being named on the birth certificate registered after 1 December 2003. If not on the birth certificate, they do not automatically have parental responsibility.

What to Bring to the Register Office

• Your birth notification (the green form given by the hospital or midwife)
• Both parents' passports or driving licences for identification (requirements vary by register office — check in advance)
• If married: your marriage certificate
• Any relevant paperwork if parents are unable to attend together

There is no fee for registering a birth. You can purchase certified copies (official copies) of the birth certificate at the appointment — you will typically need at least two copies (one for passport applications, one for future reference). Certified copies cost approximately £11 each as of 2026.

Naming Your Baby

There are some restrictions on names in the UK, though they are less extensive than in many other countries.

Register offices can decline to register names that:

• Are offensive or obscene
• Would cause harm or distress to the child
• Contain numerals or special characters (in practice, most symbols are declined)

There is no restriction on the number of names you give a child. Apostrophes in names such as O'Brien are accepted; other punctuation generally is not. Names from any language or cultural background are accepted.

You can choose to change a child's forename within the first 12 months of registration at no cost, through the same register office. After 12 months, re-registration is possible in limited circumstances; otherwise, a name change would require a deed poll.