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Registering a Still Birth
Introduction
A still-born child is legally defined as a child born after the 24th week
of pregnancy who did not, at any time after being born, breathe or show
any other signs of life.
Where to Register
When a child is still-born, the doctor or midwife who was present at
the birth or examined the baby will issue a medical certificate of
still-birth. This certificate must be taken to the register office in the
district in which it took place.
However, if it is difficult for you to attend the appropriate
office, the still-birth can be registered by declaration at any register office
in England or Wales. The registrar will then forward the information to the register office where the
still-birth took place. You will also have the opportunity at
the time of registration to purchase a full still- birth certificate (copy of the
entry in the register). The current fee for this certificate is
£3.50.
Please note: If the still-birth occurred in the Sunderland Registration
District and you choose to register by declaration with a registrar in
another district, they will be unable to issue the relevant documents. We will post these to
you once we have received the details. This may cause delays
for you in organising the funeral.
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 a still-birth?
- Parents married to each other.
If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time of
the still-birth, either the mother or father may register.
- Parents not married to each other.
If the parents of the child were not married to each other at
the time of the still-birth, information about the mother of the child
will always be entered into the register.
Information about the father may only be included in the
register in the following circumstances:
- The mother and father attend the register office and sign the
register or declaration together.
- Either parent can attend the register office with a statutory
declaration acknowledging parentage from the other partner.
Others may be qualified in specific circumstances. Consult a registrar
for details.
Information needed to register a still-birth
The following information must be supplied to the registrar to
register a still-birth:
Child
- date and place of still-birth
- the forename(s) and surname, if the parents wish to name the child
- the sex of the baby
Father (where the information is to be included)
- forename(s) and surname
- date and place of birth
- occupation
Mother
- forename(s) and surname
- maiden surname if the mother is, or has been married
- date and place of birth
- occupation
- usual address at the date of the still-birth
- date of marriage, if married to the father of the child
- number of previous children by her present husband or by any
previous husband
Please note: It is important that the information supplied is
accurate as any corrections to the register may be difficult to effect.
Documents issued by the registrar
These will only be issued by the registrar in the district where the
still-birth took place:
- Certificate of registration
A certificate of registration will be offered free of charge to the
person who registers the still-birth. This certificate provides proof that
the still-birth has taken place. It includes any names and the date of the
still-birth.
- Certificate for burial or cremation
The registrar will issue a certificate for the burial or cremation of
the still-born child. This would normally be given to the funeral director
who is making the arrangements. No funeral for the child can take place
without this certificate.
You may find the following link to 
Directgov useful.
For more information or enquiries please contact registrars@sunderland.gov.uk
or telephone 0191 520 5509
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