Register a birth

Deadline for registering a birth

Every live birth must be registered within 42 days of a child being born.

The birth must be registered at the Register Office of the district where the birth takes place. For births in Liverpool, you can register at Liverpool Women's Hospital or Liverpool Register Office.

Booking an appointment

You must make an appointment to attend either Liverpool Women's Hospital or Liverpool Register Office.

To register at the Liverpool Women's Hospital, you can add your name to the appointment lists on the main wards.

  Contact us for appointments at Liverpool Register Office

Where should I go?

The Liverpool Women's Hospital
Crown Street
Liverpool
L8 7SS

If it is difficult for you to go to the Liverpool Women's Hospital to register, you may go to Liverpool Register Office, St George's Hall (Heritage Entrance), St George's Place, Liverpool, L1 1JJ.

Other questions you might have

Who can register a birth?

• One of the parents if the parents are married to each other.
• The mother, or the mother and father together if they are not married to each other.
• You cannot ask a friend or relative to register the birth on your behalf.

If the parents are not married to each other at the time of the birth, the father's details may be entered when the mother and father attend together to register the birth.

When 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).

When 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.

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.

If the birth is to be registered with two female parents please telephone 0151 233 3004 for further advice.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

No, you do not need to bring anything with you but it may be helpful to bring your own passports and the birth certificates of any of your previous children with you to your appointment. If English is not your first language you  may ask a friend or relative to go with you to register.

What will happen at the appointment?

At the time of the registration the Registrar will give you a free short birth certificate (the short birth certificate will show only the baby's forenames, surname, sex, date of birth and district of birth).

The Registrar is also able to provide a full birth certificate at a cost of £4 if required. If certificates are required at a later date the Registrar will advise on fees.

What information does the Registrar need to know?

The Registrar will ask questions about the father and the mother’s occupation, where they live and their own place of birth which will be included on the certificate. The following details will remain confidential. They will not be entered in the Register and will not appear on any birth certificate.

• 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 date of birth of the parents.

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.
• 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.

Is my child a British citizen?

Yes

If either parent is a British citizen or settled for immigration purposes on the date of your child’s birth.

No

• If neither parent was a British citizen nor settled for immigration purposes on the date of your child’s birth.
• If my child is not a British citizen at birth, how can my child become such a citizen? - Under section 1(3) of the British Nationality Act 1981 a child is entitled to be registered as a British citizen once either of their parents becomes settled for immigration purposes in this country, or becomes a British citizen.

For more information you can contact  the UKBA Nationality Group on 0845 010 5200 or visit their website at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk . If your child was born in the UK before 1 July 2006, you should contact Nationality Group on 0845 010 5200.