Registering a still-birth
Introduction
Where and when to register a still-birth
Who can register a still-birth?
Information needed by registrar
Documents to be issued
Introduction
A still-born child is legally defined as a child born after the
24th week of pregnancy who did not, at any time after being born,
breathe or show any other signs of life. When a child is
still-born, the doctor or midwife who was present at the birth or
examined the baby will issue a medical certificate of
still-birth.
Where and when to register a
still-birth
Every still-birth in England or Wales must be registered in the
district in which it takes place. If the still-birth takes place in
Northumberland normally the hospital staff will contact the
registrar who will attend the ward to carry out the
registration. If this is not convenient then you can make an
appointment to attend one of our register offices. At all of
the Register Offices in Northumberland an
appointment is required.
Please contact 0845 600 6400 option: 4 to
make arrangements.
If it is difficult for you to attend the office, the still-birth
can be registered by declaration at any register office in England
or Wales. The registrar will then forward the information to the
register office where the still-birth took place. You will also
have the opportunity at the time of registration to purchase a full
still- birth certificate. The current fee for this certificate is
£4.00.
If the still-birth occurred in the Northumberland
Registration District and you choose to register by declaration
with a registrar in another district, they will be unable to issue
the relevant documents. We will post these to you once we have
received the details. This may cause delays for you in organising
the funeral.
Who can register a
still-birth?
Parents married to each
other
If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time
of the still-birth, either parent may register.
Parents not married to each
other
If the parents of the child were not married to each other at the
time of the still-birth, information about the mother of the child
will always be included in the register.
Information about the father (or second
parent) may only be included in the register in the following
circumstances:
- Both parents are present at the time of registration to sign
the register together.
- Either parent can attend the register office with a statutory
declaration acknowledging parentage from the other partner.
Although the majority of still-births are
registered by the parents, if it is difficult for them to attend,
other people may be able to attend to provide the information. For
example, this may be someone from the hospital where the
still-birth took place or a family member.
Please contact the register office for further
information.
Information needed by
registrar
Usually the Registrar will be in
possession of a Certificate of Still-Birth received from the
Hospital.
The following information must be supplied to
the registrar 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
child
- the sex of the baby
Parents' details required
- forename(s) and surname
- date and place of birth
- occupation
Additional details required for the
mother
- maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
- usual address at the date of the still-birth
- date of marriage, if married to the father of the child
Documents to be
issued
Certificate of still-birth registration
· A
Short Certificate of Still-Birth will be issued – with just Child’s
name on it and date of the Still-Birth
·
Also a Standard Certificate of Still-Birth will be issued with
Childs’s name and parents’ names on it and date of the
Still-Birth
Certificate for burial or cremation
We will issue a certificate for the burial or cremation of the
still-born child, so that a funeral can take place.
