After your baby is born, you must register the birth with the Registrar within six weeks of the date of birth. Please telephone the Registry Office to arrange an appointment.

The birth can usually only be registered by the mother and/or the father. If either of you are unable to register the birth within this period you must contact the Registry Office to arrange an extension.

If the baby’s parents are married to each other at the time of the birth, then either parent can attend to register. If the parents were not married at the time of the birth, the mother must attend to register and if she wishes the father’s details to appear in the birth register and on the birth certificate, he must attend with her. If either parent cannot attend to register, a statutory declaration made by the absent parent, or a court order naming the absent parent, may be acceptable. A Court Order would have to be sent to the Registrar General for his approval before the registration can take place.

In exceptional circumstances, it may be possible for another qualified person to register a birth. Please contact the Registry Office for further information and advice.

When you attend the Registry Office to register the birth of your baby, it would be helpful to the Registrar if you could bring along the Birth Notification Sheet, issued by a Midwife.

To enable us to register the birth you will need to tell the Registrar the following information:

  • the date of birth
  • where the baby was born
  • the baby’s full name
  • the mother’s full name and maiden name, if married
  • the mother’s job
  • the mother’s address
  • the mother’s date and place of birth

If you want the father’s details to be included, we need to know:

  • the father’s full name
  • the father’s date and place of birth
  • the father’s job
  • the father’s address
  • if the parents are married we need to know the date of the marriage

Once the birth has been registered you will be issued free of charge a short birth certificate, which if you are claiming child benefit [external] should be sent with your application. Full copy birth certificates and further short copies can be purchased from the Registrar. You will also be issued free of charge a form FP58, which is required for you to register your baby with your doctor.