Registration of a Birth

• When to Register

• Where to Register

• Appointments

• Who can Register?

• Corrections to a Birth entry

When to Register
After the arrival of a new baby it is a legal requirement to register the birth within 42 days. 

Where to Register
The birth must be registered in the Registration District where the baby was born.

If more convenient, the birth can be registered by making a declaration at any other register office in England or Wales. The registrar will forward the information to the register office of the district where the birth took place. 

The register office of the district where the birth took place will post to you a short birth certificate showing the name, date of birth, place of birth and sex of the child along with a form (FP58) to register the baby with a doctor.  You will also have the opportunity at the time of registration to purchase a full birth certificate (copy of the entry in the register).  The current fee for this certificate is £3.50.

Appointments
Sunderland Register Office operates an appointment system. To make an appointment you should contact us on 0191 520 5509. For your convenience we also offer a limited appointment system at The Galleries Health Centre,Washington; Houghton Library or the Hetton Centre.

If you register by declaration at another register office, check with the office concerned to see if they use an appointment system.

Who can register?
If the mother and father were married to each other at the time of the child's birth, either parent may register the birth.

If the mother and father were not married to each other at the time of the child's birth the mother alone may register the birth, but the father's details can only be entered in the register if he is also present at the time of registration. If the parents subsequently marry each other then they should re-register their baby. They should complete an application form to make a fresh registration of the birth. There is no time limit on this procedure and no fee payable.

If the father's details are not entered at the time of registration, there are procedures for them to be added later if required. This would be as a re-registration of the birth. Both mother and father would have to apply through an application form to make a fresh registration of the birth. There is no time limit on this procedure and no fee payable. 

If you are unable to attend together please ask for advice from a Registrar.

Corrections to a Birth entry
Corrections may be necessary if a mistake was made on the original registration.

For more information or enquiries please contact registrars@sunderland.gov.uk or 
telephone 0191 5205509

You may also find the following links to other websites useful:

UK Births, Marriages, Deaths and Censuses         
General Register Office 
Family Records