How is the birth registered?

In Britain, you're free to give your child whatever name you choose. That's not the case everywhere. In New Zealand, for instance, one couple decided to call their son Superman…but only because officials refused to let them call him 4Real.

Whatever you decide to call your child, there are certain formalities that have to be observed to ensure that s/he is registered.

Why do we register babies?

• The registration of the birth provides your child with their birth certificate which they’ll need throughout their life – for example, to gain a passport or for you to obtain child benefit for them.
• Birth registration gives all children the right to know who their mother is and, hopefully, their father too. According to the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child, children should have the right - as far as possible - to know both their parents.
• Registering your baby also helps the authorities maintain up to date records about the local population
• Once you have registered your baby, you will receive (free!) a short birth certificate and a registration card to enable you to register your child with your local doctor’s surgery. You cannot register a child with the health practice without first registering the birth.
• For unmarried fathers, signing the birth certificate gives you the same legal status in relation to our child as that of a married father: this is called "Parental Responsibility".
• Parental Responsibility: you and the law

When and where should the birth be registered?

• You must register the birth of your baby within 42 days of the birth in England and Wales, and 21 days in Scotland.
• Your baby must be registered in the district where s/he was born. If you are unable to register the birth in the same district, you can go to another registrar but they must then send the details to the right office. A baby born in England and Wales must be registered there. The same applies for Scotland.
• Registration can often take place in the hospital before the mother and baby go home; otherwise, you'll have to visit your local register office.

Who registers the birth?

If you are married to the baby’s mother, either of you can register the birth alone, that is without the other partner present - provided you take your marriage certificate with you.

But, if you are not married, it's more complicated

• If you want your details to be entered in the register, then you must go with your partner to sign the register together.
• If you are unable to go to the register office with your baby’s mother, you can make a statutory declaration on form 16 (or form 16W for births which took place in Wales) stating that you are the baby’s father. The mother then gives this to the registrar.
• If the baby’s mother is unable to go to the register office with you, she can make a similar declaration using the same form to acknowledge you as the father of the baby.

What surname will the baby have?

• Whoever registers the birth can give the child any name and surname they choose. 
• Even if you are registered on the birth certificate as the baby’s father, you have no right to insist that the child is given your surname.
• Married couples can choose any surname for their children – the surname does not have to be that of either parent.

Can the surname be changed?

You can only change the baby’s surname if:

• You and your partner apply to re-register the baby because you were not married when the birth was registered and your details were not listed.
• You and your partner marry after your baby was born. Then the birth must be re-registered even if the baby was given your surname on the original birth certificate.

Other things you should know:

• Mistakes on the birth register can take a lot of time to get right - so check carefully that all the information you have and give is correct.
• For unmarried fathers, from December 2003 (4th May 2006 in Scotland), having your name on the birth certificate as the father bestows Parental Responsibility (if you're married, you get it automatically anyway).
• Parental Responsibility: you and the law
• If you miss the boat, don’t despair. It’s never too late. One dad got his name on his daughter’s birth certificate when she was 30.
• If you marry after the birth, get the birth certificate changed to reflect this. Only then will your child’s rights of inheritance be fully protected.
• Remember that for any child born before December 2003 to unmarried parents, the father’s name on the birth certificate gives that father only limited legal rights in respect of his child. To secure clear rights, such a father also needs to obtain Parental Responsibility (click the link above to find out what this is and how to get it).
• If you want another copy of the short or longer birth certificate, this can be bought online, by post or telephone, or through the register office where the birth was registered.

Author

Tom Beardshaw is a co-founder and the Publisher at Dad Info, creating the website and the things we print. He lives and works in Cardiff raising his son and supporting his other lad in South Africa. Find his blog at www.tombeardshaw.com.

Your experiences

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