Registering your Baby

Introduction

After the arrival of a new baby, everything can seem to be happening in a blur. However it is important to remember to register your new arrival. You will find below information about how, when and where to do this.

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It is a legal requirement to register the birth within 42 days. This is done by a personal visit to a register office in the district where the birth occurred. Please remember you will need to call 01628 796422 to make an appointment for this.

If you prefer you can go to any other Register Office in England or Wales where the registration will be made by a declaration, which will be sent to the local office where the birth occurred, any birth certificates and your baby's GP registration card would then be sent to you by post.

Who should go to Register?

It all depends if the parents were married to each other at the time of the birth or conception. If they were, then either the mother or father can register the birth on their own. If they weren't, then who goes to do it will depend on a number of factors:

• if you want the father's details to be entered in the register, then both parents can go and sign the birth register together.
• if the father is unable to go to the register office with the mother, but you still want his details included, then he can make a statutory declaration (Form 16) acknowledging his paternity, which the mother must give to the registrar
• if the mother is unable to go to the register office with the father, she may make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father's paternity on the same form(s) as above, which the father can give to the registrar
• where there is a parental responsibility agreement in force or either parent has obtained an appropriate court order, this document can be presented at the time of registration by either parent.

If the father's particulars are not recorded in the birth register, it may be possible for the birth to be re-registered to include his details at a later date.

Where do I go to register?

There are three register offices in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. These are in Maidenhead, Windsor and Ascot. You can go to the office, which is most convenient for you, but you will need to make an appointment before you go. You can make an appointment for any office by telephoning 01628 796422.

You will need to allow about half an hour with the registrar to complete the registration of your baby.

What information will I be asked for?

The registrar will ask for the following details:

Child

• the date and place of birth; if the birth is one of twins or triplets,the time of each child's birth will also be needed
• the sex of the child
• the forename(s) and surname in which it is intended that the child will be brought up

Father (if his details are to be entered in the register)

• his forename(s) and surname
• his date and place of birth
• his occupation at the time of the child's birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation

Mother

• her forename(s) and surname 
• her maiden surname if she is, or has been, married
• her date and place of birth
• her occupation at the time of the child's birth or, if not employed at that time, her last occupation
• her usual address at the date of the birth
• the date of marriage, if married to the child's father at the time of the birth
• the number of previous children by the present husband and any former husband

It is very important that all the information recorded in the birth register is completely correct as mistakes can take quite a bit of time and trouble to put right. This is why the person registering the birth should check the information very carefully before signing the register.

When do I get the Birth Certificate?

After giving the registrar all the necessary information, you will be asked to check the record carefully and sign it before being given, free of charge, one short birth certificate with details of the baby's name, sex and date and district of birth.
A full birth certificate containing all the information in the register, and further short birth certificates, are also available to buy at a cost of £3.50 per certificate. You will be offered the chance to order both versions when you go to register.
You will also be given a pink form (FP58) to register the baby with your GP.

Parental responsibility

The mother of a child - and the father if he is married to the mother - automatically have parental responsibility. Where the parents are not married to each other, the father will acquire parental responsibility if he acts with the mother to have his name recorded in the child's birth registration after 1st December 2003.

An unmarried father can also obtain parental responsibility by later marrying the child's mother, by making a parental responsibility agreement with her, or by getting a court order. You may wish to consider this if you have other children.
If you need further information or advice, you should call Parentline Plus on 0808 800 2222 or textphone them on 0800 783 6783, or get legal advice            

Re-registration after marriage

If the parents of a child subsequently get married it is necessary to re-register the child. It is necessary to do this even if the child has already been given the father's surname and no matter how old the children are at the time of marriage. The re-registration process is very straightforward and further details and the necessary forms (LA1) can be obtained from the register office. Re-registration after marriage is a legal requirement under the 1976 Legitimacy Act.

How do I get a copy of a certificate?

Copies of certificates from  current or archived registers can be obtained by applying to the Register Office which has custody of the register and paying the appropriate fee. Alternatively you can apply to the General Register Office.  Link to the General Register Office.

For information about copies of entries registered within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead telephone 01628 796422 or write to:-

The Superintendent Registrar
The Register Office
Town Hall
St. Ives Road
Maidenhead
SL6 1RF

 map to the register office