Register a birth

Find out if you can register a birth by: 

Information you need when registering a birth 

When registering the birth, you should know: 

  • place and date of the birth 

  • name, surname and sex of the baby 

  • parents’ names, surnames and address 

  • places and dates of parents’ birth 

  • date of parents’ marriage or civil partnership 

  • parents’ jobs 

  • mother’s maiden surname 

What you should take 

If you can register the birth, you should take at least one form of identification when you go to the register office. You can use: 

  • passport 

  • birth certificate 

  • deed poll 

  • driving licence 

  • proof of address (for example, a utility bill) 

  • Council Tax bill 

  • marriage or civil partnership certificate 

You should also take your child’s personal child health record or ‘red book’ as some registrars may ask to see it. If you are going to the register office on your own, you may need proof of paternity (external link) from the other parent before you give their details. 

After the birth is registered 

Once you have registered the birth, you may be able to claim: 

See also: