Who should register a birth?
When the parents of a baby are married to each other at the time of the birth then either the mother or the father can register the baby.
If the parents are not married to each other at the time of the birth the father's details may be entered only in the following circumstances:
- where the mother and father attend together to register the birth
OR - where the father is not able to attend he may make what is called a Statutory Declaration confirming that he is the father. The mother will give this declaration to the Registrar (the form for this declaration is available from any Register Office)
OR - where the mother is not able to attend with the father, she may make a Statutory Declaration confirming the name of the father. The father should give the declaration to the Registrar
OR - when either parent has a Court Order or Parental Responsibility Agreement in respect of the child the Court Order or Agreement must be handed to the Registrar who will advise on each case as it arises
You cannot ask a friend or relative to register the birth on your behalf.
What surname will the baby have?
The child will normally be given the surname of the mother or the father. Even if the parents are not married to each other, and the father does not attend, the child may be given his surname.
Once the surname has been decided it may be changed only when:
- The parents apply for a re-registration of the birth to have the father's details included where they were not included in the first register entry.
OR - The parents marry each other at any time after the baby is born and registered. In this case the birth should be re-registered even if the child was given the father's surname at the original registration.