Registering or re-registering a birth
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Registering a birth
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
We know this is a busy time, but did you know it is a statutory requirement that births in England and Wales are registered within 42 days? You need to make an appointment to register the birth in the district* in which the birth took place.
When you attend your appointment, the registrar will record the full name and surname of your child, the full names of the parent/parents, their places of birth, occupations and address or addresses. Births in Wales can be registered bilingually in both Welsh and English.
Once this information has been added to the register, you will be asked to sign the legal record which will be held in the birth register. You must check the information recorded extremely carefully before signing. Should you require a correction or amendment to a birth entry please contact us on 01267 228210. Please be advised that statutory fees may apply.
*Occasionally, you can arrange to register outside the district of birth, however this may cause delays to the registration and receipt of the birth certificates. If you wish to discuss a registration out of district, please contact us on 01267 228210.
Who can register
If you were married to each other or in a civil partnership when your child was born (or at the time of conception) either of you may register the birth alone and record both parents’ details.
If you were not married to each other or in a civil partnership when your child was born (or at the time of the conception) and you both wish to be recorded on the birth entry, our preference is that you both attend an appointment together as joint informants to sign the legal register.
A mother who is unmarried or not in a civil partnership can attend an appointment on her own to register the child’s birth and record only her information in the register. The natural father’s details may be added at a later date by re-registration and there is no time limit for when this can be done.
However, in certain circumstances, there are legal provisions which allow for either unmarried parent or partner to record both parents’ details with only one of them attending. Call us on 01267 228210 for advice.
In exceptional circumstances where neither parent is able to register a birth please contact us on 01267 228210 for information and advice.
What to bring to register the birth
The local hospital where the birth occurred will notify us of the birth. You may be asked to produce baby’s red book.
You will need to bring proof of identification for both parents and proof of address.
Our preferred documents are:
- ID - Passport, birth certificate or driving licence
- Proof of address - utility bill, bank statement or driving licence.
If you are married, please bring your marriage certificate.
You do not need to bring your baby with you to the registrar's office to show that the birth has taken place. You can make an appointment to register a birth online.
Certificates
A full copy of the entry in the register showing parent’s names, addresses, birth places and occupations, is available to purchase at the time of registration for £12.50 per copy. A birth certificate is required for opening bank accounts and obtaining a passport.
- share this page by email
- share this page on Facebook, opens in a new tab
- share this page on X (Twitter), opens in a new tab
- share this on Linked In, opens in a new tab
Registering a birth
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
We know this is a busy time, but did you know it is a statutory requirement that births in England and Wales are registered within 42 days? You need to make an appointment to register the birth in the district* in which the birth took place.
When you attend your appointment, the registrar will record the full name and surname of your child, the full names of the parent/parents, their places of birth, occupations and address or addresses. Births in Wales can be registered bilingually in both Welsh and English.
Once this information has been added to the register, you will be asked to sign the legal record which will be held in the birth register. You must check the information recorded extremely carefully before signing. Should you require a correction or amendment to a birth entry please contact us on 01267 228210. Please be advised that statutory fees may apply.
*Occasionally, you can arrange to register outside the district of birth, however this may cause delays to the registration and receipt of the birth certificates. If you wish to discuss a registration out of district, please contact us on 01267 228210.
Who can register
If you were married to each other or in a civil partnership when your child was born (or at the time of conception) either of you may register the birth alone and record both parents’ details.
If you were not married to each other or in a civil partnership when your child was born (or at the time of the conception) and you both wish to be recorded on the birth entry, our preference is that you both attend an appointment together as joint informants to sign the legal register.
A mother who is unmarried or not in a civil partnership can attend an appointment on her own to register the child’s birth and record only her information in the register. The natural father’s details may be added at a later date by re-registration and there is no time limit for when this can be done.
However, in certain circumstances, there are legal provisions which allow for either unmarried parent or partner to record both parents’ details with only one of them attending. Call us on 01267 228210 for advice.
In exceptional circumstances where neither parent is able to register a birth please contact us on 01267 228210 for information and advice.
What to bring to register the birth
The local hospital where the birth occurred will notify us of the birth. You may be asked to produce baby’s red book.
You will need to bring proof of identification for both parents and proof of address.
Our preferred documents are:
- ID - Passport, birth certificate or driving licence
- Proof of address - utility bill, bank statement or driving licence.
If you are married, please bring your marriage certificate.
You do not need to bring your baby with you to the registrar's office to show that the birth has taken place. You can make an appointment to register a birth online.
Certificates
A full copy of the entry in the register showing parent’s names, addresses, birth places and occupations, is available to purchase at the time of registration for £12.50 per copy. A birth certificate is required for opening bank accounts and obtaining a passport.
Re-registration of a Birth
A birth can be re-registered either -
- To re-register a child after the parent’s marriage or civil-partnership.
- To add a natural father where not recorded in the original birth entry.
Re-registration after marriage or civil partnership (legitimisation).
Where parents have married or formed a civil partnership after their child’s birth, they are required by law to re-register the birth to show that they are now married parents or parents in a civil partnership.
This is a statutory requirement that will give parents the opportunity to change the surnames of the mother, the child and the father, on the child’s birth entry, following the marriage or civil partnership of the parents.
The re-registration can be arranged by appointment. Only one parent will be required to attend.
Telephone us on 01267 228210 or email registrars@carmarthenshire.gov.uk so that we can send you the appropriate form to complete. We will then make you an appointment at one of our offices.
Re-registration to add the natural father to a birth entry.
Where an unmarried mother has registered her child without the natural father and now wishes to add him to the child’s birth entry, a re-registration can be arranged by appointment. Both parents must agree to the re-registration and both must attend.
The re-registration to include the natural father will result in the parents having joint parental responsibility.
Telephone us on 01267 228210 or email registrars@carmarthenshire.gov.uk so that we can send you the appropriate form to complete. We will then make you an appointment at one of our offices.
Other circumstances
For enquiries regarding any other circumstances such as second parent re-registrations or re-registrations by statutory declaration or court order, please contact our office on 01267 228210 or at registrars@carmarthenshire.gov.uk for advice.
Re-registration of a Birth
A birth can be re-registered either -
- To re-register a child after the parent’s marriage or civil-partnership.
- To add a natural father where not recorded in the original birth entry.
Re-registration after marriage or civil partnership (legitimisation).
Where parents have married or formed a civil partnership after their child’s birth, they are required by law to re-register the birth to show that they are now married parents or parents in a civil partnership.
This is a statutory requirement that will give parents the opportunity to change the surnames of the mother, the child and the father, on the child’s birth entry, following the marriage or civil partnership of the parents.
The re-registration can be arranged by appointment. Only one parent will be required to attend.
Telephone us on 01267 228210 or email registrars@carmarthenshire.gov.uk so that we can send you the appropriate form to complete. We will then make you an appointment at one of our offices.
Re-registration to add the natural father to a birth entry.
Where an unmarried mother has registered her child without the natural father and now wishes to add him to the child’s birth entry, a re-registration can be arranged by appointment. Both parents must agree to the re-registration and both must attend.
The re-registration to include the natural father will result in the parents having joint parental responsibility.
Telephone us on 01267 228210 or email registrars@carmarthenshire.gov.uk so that we can send you the appropriate form to complete. We will then make you an appointment at one of our offices.
Other circumstances
For enquiries regarding any other circumstances such as second parent re-registrations or re-registrations by statutory declaration or court order, please contact our office on 01267 228210 or at registrars@carmarthenshire.gov.uk for advice.
