Still-birth - registering
Information on registering a still-birth that occurred in England or Wales.Scotland and Northern Ireland have different procedures, you should contact their General Register Office:
England and Wales
Still-births must be registered in the district where they occur, although this may be arranged through any register office within England or Wales.
The main Act and regulations governing the registration of births and deaths are:
- Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (as amended)
- The Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987 (as amended)
- The Registration of Births and Deaths (Welsh Language) Regulations 1987 (as amended)
Registering a still-birth
What is a still-birth
A still-born child is a child born, after the 24th week of pregnancy, who did not breathe or show any other signs of life.
Note. - A child who breathed or showed other signs of life is considered live-born for registration purposes, irrespective of the number of weeks duration of the pregnancy.
How to register
When a child is still-born, the doctor or midwife who was present at the birth or examined the body will issue a medical certificate of still-birth. The certificate should be taken to the Register Office, to register the still-birth.
When and Where to register
The still-birth must be registered, in the district where it occurred, within three months (normally within 42 days). The information is recorded in the still-birth register and the person registering the still-birth signs the record.
Contact the local register office for appointment details.
Registering at a different Register Office
If it is inconvenient for you to register the still-birth in the district where it took place, the information can be given at another register office. However, there may be a couple of days delay - you should discuss this with the registrar and your funeral director to avoid any delay to the funeral.
The registrar will record the details on a declaration form and send it to the appropriate register office. Once received, it will be entered into the still-birth register.
Certificates of the still-birth, which may be ordered and paid for at the time of making the declaration, as well as the document allowing the funeral to proceed, will be posted to you.
Welsh language
A registration in Wales may be made in English and Welsh if you give the information in Welsh and the registrar can understand and write Welsh. Otherwise, the registration may be carried out in a different district where there are welsh-speaking registrars, using the declaration procedure as described above.
A still-birth occurring in England may be registered in English only.
Who can register a still-birth
Parents married to each other
If the parents were married to each other at the time of the still-birth (or conception), either the mother or the father may register.
Parents not married to each other
If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the still-birth (or conception), information about the father may be entered in the register only in the following circumstances:
- The mother and father go to the register office and sign the still-birth register together, or
- Where the father is unable to go to the register office with the mother -
the father may make a statutory declaration acknowledging his paternity which the mother must produce to the registrar (this form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales), or - where the mother is unable to go to the register office with the father -
the mother may make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father's paternity which the father must produce to the registrar (this form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales).
If information about the father is not recorded, it may be possible for the birth to be re-registered to include his details at a later date. You should contact us for further advice.
Other people who may register still-births
Although the majority of still-births are registered by the parents, sometimes neither the mother or the father are able to do this. In these circumstances, the registrar will arrange for the registration to be completed by whichever of the following people is best able to do so:
- The occupier of the house or hospital where the child was still-born
- A person who was present at the still-birth
- A person who is responsible for the still-born child
- The person who found the still-born child (where the date and place of the still-birth are unknown).
Information to be supplied for the registration of a still-birth
Child
- Date and place of still-birth
- The forename(s) and surname, if the parents wish to name the still-born child
- sex of the child
Father (where this information is to be entered in the register)
- Forename(s) and surname
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation at the time of the still-birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
Mother
- Forename(s) and surname
- Maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation at the time of the still-birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
- Usual address at the date of the still-birth
- Date of marriage, if married to the still-born child's father at the time of the still-birth
- Number of previous children by the present husband and by any former husband
Corrections to the register
It is most important that the information recorded in the still-birth register is correct.
If any mistake is made, for example in the spelling of a name or in the description of an occupation, it will be very difficult to put right later. The person registering the still-birth should check the entry very carefully before signing.
Language difficulties
If English is not your first language, it would be useful to bring someone who can help you - acting as an interpreter.
However, you must register the death personally - a helper cannot register instead of you.
What certificates will be issued?
Certificate of registration
A certificate of registration will be issued, free of charge, to the person who registers the still-birth. This certificate provides proof that the still-birth has been registered. Any names given to the still-born child and entered in the register will be recorded on the certificate of registration.
Still-birth certificate
After a still-birth has been registered, one or more certificates may be bought at the time of registration or at any time afterwards by the mother or the father. (The father's details would need to be recorded in the register entry for him to be able to obtain a certificate).
Any application for a certificate from someone who is not the mother or father should be sent to the General Register Office, Anniversary Section, PO Box 2, Southport, PR8 2JD, giving full details of the purpose for which the certificate is required.
Certificate for burial or cremation
The registrar will issue a certificate for the burial or cremation of the still-born child. This is normally passed to the funeral director.
A funeral cannot take place until this certificate is given to the burial authority or the crematorium. If there is a delay to the registration, it is possible for a certificate for the burial to be issued before registration provided the still-birth does not need to be reported to the coroner. A certificate for cremation cannot be issued before the registration.
Further advice about registering a still-birth in England or Wales may be obtained from your local register office or from:
General Register Office, Room D209, Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 2HH
Telephone: 0151 471 4805
Email: registering.still-births@ons.gov.uk
Contact Details
For more information on registering a still-birth, please contact:
Registry Office on 0121 704 8002 or
email connectcc@solihull.gov.uk