Registering a birth
You must register your baby within 42 days of the birth.
Births should be registered at the local register office for the
area where the birth took place.
However, if it is more convenient, you may declare details of
the birth at another register office but this means that you will
not receive your baby's documents at your appointment.
Details will be forwarded to the relevant office in the area where
the birth took place and they will then issue a short birth
certificate and post it out to the mother.
If you would like to register a birth at Knowsley Register
Office please book
an appointment online or contact us to make an
appointment.
Who should register the birth?
If you are married, either parent can register the birth. If you
are not married, the father’s details can only be entered if both
parents are present at the registration appointment. However,
in certain circumstances the father's details can be entered into
the register without him being present. Please contact the
office for further advice and guidance.
What information does the Registrar need to know?
- Date and place of birth. In the case of multiple births, the
time of birth for each child.
- Forename and surname of your child.
- Mother’s full name at the time of child’s birth.
- Mother’s maiden name if she is or has been married.
- Mother’s place of birth.
- Home address at the time of child’s birth.
- Mother’s occupation (you can enter details of employment before
the birth if you wish).
- Father’s full name at the time of child’s birth (if his details
are to be registered).
- Father’s place of birth.
- Father’s occupation at the time of child’s birth.
What surname will the baby have?
Your child can take the surname of either parent, or both.
Even if you are not married and the father doesn’t attend the
registration, you can still give your child the father’s
surname.
Once your child’s name and surname have been registered, it can
only be changed in the following circumstances:
- You apply for re-registration of the birth to have the father’s
details included, if they were not included in the first
entry.
- You get married after registering the birth. In this case, you
should re-register the birth, even if you gave your child their
father’s surname at the original registration.
Fees
At the registration appointment you will be issued with a short
birth certificate free of charge which contains the child's name,
date and place of birth. This may not always be accepted at
passport offices and other organisations. A full birth certificate
containing the child's name, date and place of birth and parents
names, can be obtained at the time of registration for a fee of
£3.50 per certificate.