BirthsRegistering a Birth
Congratulations!
You will find all the information you require to register your baby within the following pages. However, if there is anything that you're not sure about please feel free to contact us at the Register Office.
F.A.Q.s
If the child's parents are married to each other, either parent may register the birth.
If the parents are not married, the mother can register the birth, but for unmarried fathers to have equal parental responsibility for the child, both parents must attend together for the father's details to be entered into the register.
If the mother is not married to the baby's father she is not normally obliged to include the father's details in the register. If they are not entered at the time of registration it may be possible to enter his details at a later date.
You can register the baby's birth as soon as you like or are able, but it is a legal requirement to register within 42 days of the birth. Please note, the birth must be registered within the registration district in which it occurred. This means that if your baby was born within the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil the registration must be made in the following offices by appointment only:
Merthyr Tydfil Register Office
Treharris Library*
Aberfan Community Centre*
* (Wednesday afternoons by prior arrangement only with the Register Office 01685 727333/725344)
Although the birth must be registered here within 42 dyas, if it is impractical for you to visit the Register Office in Merthyr Tydfil you can go to another office in England or Wales to see the Registrar there.
This process is called Registering a Birth by Declaration. You will need to make an appointment at the office you choose to attend. The Registrar who sees you will forward the information to Merthyr Tydfil. In this case any birth certificate you may require, and the form to register your baby with the GP, will be sent to you in the post.
Please remember if you choose to register your baby in this way it will take longer than the usual process and may delay any arrangements you may wish to make with regard to family allowances.
You will need to provide the Registrar with the following information:
About the Baby
- The date and place of your baby's birth, the time of birth will be required if the baby is a twin or triplet etc.
- The forename(s) and surname it is intended that the baby will be brought up with
About the Mother
- Full name(s) and surname being used at the time of the baby's birth (maiden name if mother is, or has ever been, married)
- Her date and place of birth
- Her usual address at the date of birth
- Her occupation
- Further statistical information will be requested some of which is voluntary
About the Father (where these details are to be entered in the register)
- His name and surname
- His date and place of birth
- His occupation
- Further statistical information will be requested some of which is voluntary
Note: (if the fathers details are not recorded at the time of registration, they may be entered at a later date, but only in certain circumstances)
You will be issued with a 'short' birth certificate free of charge at the time of registration. This certificate shows the baby's name, surname, sex, date of birth and the registration district and sub-district.
The 'full' birth certificate will show all of the above details plus the parent's details and place of birth. This certificate will be required if you wish to apply for a passport for the baby.
Certificates can be purchased for the following fees:
Short Birth Certificate / Full Birth Certificate
- £3.50 at time of registration
- £7.00 after registration
- £9.00 When issued from vault deposited register
If English is not your first language, please feel free to ask a relative or friend to accompany you to help with the registration. Alternatively, translation can be made using Language Line.
Please remember, however, that the birth must be registered by a qualified informant (usually the mother) and a friend cannot register on your behalf.
Please contact the Register Office who will answer any questions you may have regarding a change of record.
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, by obtaining a court order, or if his details were not entered on the registration at the time of the birth, by re-registration
If you need further information or advice you should call Parentline Plus on 0808 800 2222, text phone 0800 783 6783, or get legal advice.
If the natural parents have married each other since the birth, a re-registration will be required so that a new birth record can be created to show the child as a child of the parent's marriage.
If the parents are unmarried and would like the natural father's details added to the birth record, a re-registration will be required so that a new birth record can be created to replace the original one.
Re-registration can be required in other circumstances, please contact the Register office for further details.
For further information on changing a name by deed poll, visit http://www.ukdp.co.uk/pages/changenameonbirthcertificate.php
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