Register a birth

Who can register a birth

See how to register a birth based on your marital status:

Married or civil partner heterosexual couples

If the parents are married or in a civil partnership at the time of birth or conception, either the mother or father can register the birth. The details of both parents will be included on the birth certificate.

The parent who attends will need to bring documents for each parent. These can be:

a passport
a driving licence
a utility bill
a birth or marriage certificate

Married or civil partner same sex female couples

Either parent can register the birth on their own if all of the following are true:

the mother has a child by donor insemination or fertility treatment
she was married or in a civil partnership with another female at the time of the treatment

Unmarried, non-civil-partner heterosexual couples

If the parents are not married at the time of birth or conception:

the father's details can only be included on the birth certificate if both parents go together to register the birth
the mother can register without the father, but his details will not be included (it may be possible to re-register at a later date and add his details)

If there is a parental responsibility agreement in force, or either parent has an appropriate court order, it should be presented before the registration appointment. For unmarried fathers to get equal parental responsibility, both parents need to register the birth together.

If neither the mother nor the father can attend the appointment, contact the register office.

Unmarried, non-civil-partner same sex female couples

When a mother is not married or in a civil partnership with the baby’s other parent, her partner can be seen as the child’s second parent if both women:

are treated together in the UK by a licensed clinic
have made a ‘parenthood agreement’

However, for both parents’ details to be recorded on the birth certificate, they must do one of the following:

register the birth jointly
complete a ‘Statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage’ form and one parent takes the signed form when she registers the birth
get a document from the court (for example, a court order) giving the second female parent parental responsibility and one parent shows the document when she registers the birth

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility for your child gives you important legal rights as well as responsibilities. Without it, you don’t have any right to be involved in decisions such as where the child lives, their education, religion or medical treatment.

Unlike mothers, married fathers or fathers in a civil partnership with the baby's mother, if you are not married to or in a civil partnership with the baby’s mother, you do not automatically have parental responsibility for them.

With parental responsibility, you're treated in law as the child’s parent and you take equal responsibility for bringing them up.

You can also get parental responsibility by:

marrying or entering into a civil partnership with the child’s mother
signing an official agreement with the mother
getting a court order

This might be something to bear in mind if you have other children.

Family Lives has a free helpline where you can talk through the options and ask for advice.

Register a birth

Who can register a birth

Married or civil partner parents

Unmarried parents

Parental responsibility