A Baby's birth must be registered within 42 days of his/her/their birth.
Where can I register a Birth
A Baby's birth must be registered in the Registration District where the birth took place.
If it is not convenient to attend the Register Office in the district where the birth took place, details of the birth may be given at any Register Office in England or Wales.
The Registration Officer in the district where the birth details were taken will forward the information to the district where baby was born.
When the Registration Officer of the district where the birth took place receives baby's details they will register the birth and forward your certificate (s) to you, along with a form to enable you to register baby with your doctor.
Who can register the birth
If baby's parents are married to each other when baby is born, either or both parents may attend to register the birth (although only one parent will sign the register).
Where baby's parents are not married to each other and they want baby's fathers details entered into the Register, both parents should attend together to register baby's birth.
If baby's father does not attend his details cannot be entered into the register at that time.
If baby's fathers details are not entered into the register at the time of his baby's birth registration, there are procedures for these details to be added at a later date. (You will need to contact a registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for more information).
How do I register a Birth
Baby's parents will need to attend the office in person to register the birth.
For your convenience Darlington Register Office operates an appointment system.
The Registration
When attending Darlington Register Office please let the receptionist know you have arrived.
The registrar will see you in a private room and the information you give will be entered firstly onto the computer and then once you are happy with the content details will be copied into the Birth Register. Before signing the register, you will be asked to check that the information you have given has been entered accurately.
Can I change my child's surname after Registration
Where baby's parents were not married to each other at the time of Birth and subsequently marry each other there is a facility to re-register baby's birth after the parents marriage. It is possible at this time to change baby's surname.
If you wish to change baby's surname under any other circumstances the advice of a solicitor should be sought.
Certificates
You will receive one free birth certificate which does not contain parents details and a form to register baby with a doctor. Any further certificates you require need to be paid for. You may wish to purchase a full certified copy of the entry. Each certificate will cost you £3.50 as will any further abbreviated copies. These copies can be purchased at any time but once the register containing baby's birth entry is full, the fee for copies increases to £7.00 for a full copy of the entry or £5.50 for an abbreviated version.
Should you wish to purchase any historic entries for family research purposes, visit our Family Research page.