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Births

Births in England or Wales must be registered in the district in which they take place although this may be arranged through any register office within these countries.

The main Act and regulations governing the registration of births and death are:

• The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (as amended)
• The Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987 (as amended), and
• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Welsh Language) Regulations 1987 (as amended)

When to register

Every birth in England or Wales must be registered in the district in which it takes place within 42 days of the date of birth.

Where to register

A birth must be registered in the district where it occurred.

If attending that register office is not convenient, then you can give the details at any register office in England or Wales. They will send the information to the correct register office for you.

The register office of the district where the birth took place will post you any birth certificates you require and a form to register your baby with a doctor.

An appointment only system operates at Salford's Register Office. Please telephone 0161-909 6501 to make an appointment to see the Registrar.

How to register

If parents are married when the baby is born, either parent may register the birth.

However, if the baby's parents are not married, and they want the father's details to be included in the register, both parents should attend the office together to register the birth.

If the parents are not married it is not necessary to have the father's details in the register. If his details are not entered at the time of registration, there are special procedures for them to be added later if required. There may be other options in some cases. Contact a registrar for more information.

Meeting the Registrar

You will be seen in private and asked questions about the baby and his or her parents.

The registrar will write the details in the birth register and enter them on to a computer.

You will be asked to check the information entered in the register carefully and to sign that it is correct.

Information needed to register

You will be asked for the following:

• The date and place of birth. If the birth is one of twins etc. then the times of births will be required
• The baby's forename, surname and sex
• The baby's parents' names, dates and place of birth
• The baby's parents' occupations
• The baby's parents' address(es)
• The baby's mother's maiden name
• The date of the baby's parents' marriage and number of previous children

Certificate

You will receive a short certified copy of the entry in the Register and a form to enable you to register the baby with a doctor.

The registrar will be happy to provide you with further copies. You may find extra copies useful, and you might like to have a copy of the full entry. These can be provided at the time of registration or at a later date.

Cost

Registration of a birth, the short certified copy of the entry and the form for the doctor are free of charge.

However, if you want additional copies of the entry, the fee for a certificate is £3.50 at the time of registration.

If you require further certificates from the current register an administration fee of £1.00 will be added for postage and administration costs.

From 1 April 2008 the fee for additional certificates will be £4.50 which includes administration costs

Who to contact

Name

The Register Office

Address

Town Hall
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5DA

Telephone

0161-909 6501

Email

birthsanddeaths1@salford.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 26 October 2009

• Births, marriages and deaths
• Child Care and Early Years

See also

• National Statistics Online
•