Tell us Once Service
As part of your appointment at the Register Office you will be offered a “Tell us Once” Service whereby on behalf of the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) information about the birth will be shared with various Government and Local Agencies including registration for Child Benefit by electronic notification, removing the need to send a birth certificate
To access this service you will need to bring with you a completed Child Benefit Form which should be supplied to you by the Hospital.
Should you not have a Child Benefit Form they can be obtained from the Register Office or downloaded from the HM Revenue and Customs website [external link]
More information about this service can be found in the Leaflet [pdf document]. Do not hesitate to contact the Register Office on 01325 346 604 if you require any additional information.
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 information will then be forwarded 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. There are procedures for these details to be added at a later date. (contact us for more information about this).
How do I register a Birth?
Baby's parents will need to attend the office in person to register the birth.
For your convenience we operate an appointment system. When you arrive at the Register Office, please let the receptionist know.
The Registration
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.
How much does it cost to register a birth?
The birth registration and the abbreviated birth certificate are free of charge. If you require to purchase further certificates there is a charge. Please see our Fees section.
Certificates
You will receive one free certificate which does not contain parents details. 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 at the time of registration. Further copies can be purchased after that date. Please see our Fees section.
Should you wish to purchase any historic entries for family research purposes, visit our Family Research page.