Registration of births

Who can register a baby's birth?

The registration will take about 15 to 20 minutes, and, by law must be completed within 42 days of the baby's arrival.

• If the mother and father were married to each other at the time of the child's birth either parent may register
• If the mother and father are not married to each other at the time of the child's birth, the mother alone may register the birth

• The father's details can only be entered in the register if he is also present at the time of registration or the mother and father both make a statutory declaration.

Where do I register?

A birth must be registered in the district where it occurred. However, you may attend any Register Office in England and Wales to supply the details required for the entry (known as 'registering by declaration'). The registrar will send the details through the post to the appropriate office on your behalf, where the birth will be recorded in the register. A free birth certificate and doctor's card will be sent to you by post.

What is needed to register?

The baby's parents must provide the registrar with the following information:

• Baby's date and place of birth, forename(s) and surname
• Mother's full name, date and place of birth, current or last occupation and, if applicable, date of marriage
• If the father's details are to be entered in the register then the registrar will need the same details as are required from the mother.

How do I make an appointment?

You must make an appointment to register the birth of your baby. You can do this by telephoning Herefordshire Register Office on telephone number 01432 260565.

What the Parent(s) will receive

• The registration of the baby's birth will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Registering a birth is free.
• The Registrar will give the parents a short birth certificate showing the baby's name, sex and date of birth together with a medical card (sometimes referred to as a "pink card").
• In addition, parents have the opportunity to purchase a full birth certificate (including parents details) for a fee of £ 3.50. This fee can increase if the full certificate is purchased at a later date.

How do I request a Copy Birth Certificate?

We can only supply certificates for births that occurred in the Herefordshire County area.

• Standard birth certificates contain all the details entered in the register and cost £7.00.
• Short birth certificates contain the full name, date of birth and registration district and cost £5.50
• If the certificate(s) you require are from a register in current use, the cost is reduced to £3.50. Please contact Herefordshire Register Office on 01432 260565.

How do I change my baby's name?

Can the change of name be recorded at any time?

Only new names given to the baby within 12 months of the birth registration can be recorded. If you want to have the new names added to the birth register after 12 months it should be possible to do so as long as you can show that the new names have been used within the 12 months.

What sort of changes can be recorded?

The forename(s) in the birth entry can be changed completely, extra names can be added, or existing ones changed. There is no provision in this to record a change to the surname.

Who can change your baby's name on the birth certificate?

After the birth has been registered the law allows a mother, father or person with parental responsibility for the child, to change the name either by calling the baby by the new name or by having the baby baptised in new names

How do I apply to change the baby's name?

There is a form which needs to be filed in. This form is available from Register Offices, you can contact Herefordshire Registration Service via email using the following link registrars@herefordshire.gov.uk . If the baby was not baptised you will need a Certificate of name given NOT in Baptism. (It is also known as a certificate of Naming).

What happens if the baby has been Baptised?

If the baby was baptised you need a Certificate of name given in Baptism completed by the Minister who has the register of baptisms. If the baby has been baptised since the birth was registered, no change can be made to the birth register by substituting the baptismal name with another not given in baptism.

Some information you should know before filling in the form

The form needs to be filled in carefully. If you are adding a name to the one already on the birth certificate, you should show ALL the forenames you want the child to be known by in the space for the new name.

Where do I take the form?

Once the form is completed, it can be handed in at the Register Office where the baby's birth was registered. If you do not live in the area where your baby was registered, the form can be sent by post.

When will I be able to have a new Certificate?

Once the new name has been included in the birth entry, a certificate can be bought from the Registrar. The current fee is available from the Registrar.

How will the new Certificate look?

A short certificate, which contains the child's name and surname, sex, date and place of birth, will show only the new name. A full certificate will show all details of your baby's birth, including the original name, but at the bottom of the certificate, the new name will be shown. Once the new name has been inserted the name at the bottom of the certificate is treated as the correct full name of the child.

Do you need any more advice before you change your baby's name?

This information is for guidance only and is not a complete statement of the law. If you need further advice please telephone your local Registrar.

Registration

Please remember that the change of name should be made for the benefit of the child by someone who has parental responsibility for the child. You should take notice of any Court orders which exist about the naming of your child. It may be possible to change your child's name again in future, but not to record that change on the birth certificate.

If English is not the first language of the person changing the baby's name, a relative or friend may accompany the parent to the Register Office.

Re-registration of a birth following a marriage

Where you have registered the birth of your child where both of you signed the Register to say you are the natural parents but in the future, if you should marry each other you may be able to re-register the birth. The new entry will show the relevant information for the child at the time of his / her parent's marriage which does not appear on the original entry. It may be important for the benefit of your child to ensure you do re-register as soon as possible after your marriage. An application form may be obtained from the Registrar at your local Registrar Office. The Registrar will advise you and will decide if the re-registration can be dealt with locally or whether the application is referred to the Registrar General's Office.

Want a civil naming Ceremony?

A Naming Ceremony is a special way of celebrating the arrival of your child. It is also a good opportunity to declare, before family and friends, your promise to be as good a parent as you can, and for grandparents, adult friends and relatives to confirm their special relationship with your child.

Herefordshire Registration Service now offers these ceremonies - a fully trained professional Celebrant will carry out the ceremony as you wish. Any parent, or someone with parental responsibility or a legal guardian, can make the arrangements. Parents do not have to be married, neither is the Naming Ceremony just for babies - children of any age can have a Naming Ceremony. You could even involve older children in the ceremony which can take place at selected venues within the county. If you want more information and a list of the suitable venues, please contact the Herefordshire Register Office on tel.no. 01432 260565 or via email at registrars@herefordshire.gov.uk

You will then be invited to discuss the ceremony and your own personal requirements. Unlike a Birth Certificate, the commemorative certificate issued is not intended for legal use and is unlikely to be accepted as proof of identity. It cannot be used to change a child's name and you are still required to register your baby's birth with the Registration Service as normal. However, parents and supporting adults will have the opportunity to declare and promise their love and dedication within a personalised ceremony.