At your appointment to register the birth, the Registrar will take you through the registration procedures and offer any advice or guidance required.  Registration of a birth is free of charge.

The Registrar will need the following information about the baby, the father and the mother:

The Baby

• Date and place of the baby's birth (if the births are twins, triplets, etc. the time of birth of each baby will also be required)
• Forenames and surname with which you intend to bring the baby up

The Mother

• Full name and surname at the time of the baby's birth
• Maiden surname if she is or has been married
• Her own place of birth
• Usual home address at the date of the baby's birth
• Occupation (if the mother has been employed at any time before the birth, this occupation can be entered if she wishes)

The Father

• Full name and surname at the time of the baby's birth
• His own place of birth
• His occupation at the time of the baby's birth

Other information

The following details will remain confidential.  They will not be entered in the Register and will not appear on any birth certificate. 

The Registrar will ask:

• If the parents were married to each other at the time of the birth, and if they were, the date of the marriage
• The number of children the mother has had previously by her present husband or any former husband
• The dates of the birth of the parents

When you have registered the birth, the Register will give you a free short birth certificate, a voucher for a free gift pack, plus a form for you to register your baby with your doctor. 

The short birth certificate will only show the baby's forenames, surname, sex, date of birth and district of birth.

If you require a full birth certificate (which is a copy of the entire register entry) a fee of £3.50 is payable at the time of registration.