Stillbirth is now defined as any baby born with no signs of life
after 24 weeks of pregnancy. If there are no signs of life
before 24 weeks, this is known as miscarriage. When a child is
still-born it is necessary to register the still-birth in the
district in which it occurred. Although this may be arranged
through any register office in England or Wales, it needs to be
done within 42 days, and may not be done more than three months
after the still-birth occurred.
How to register a still-birth
A medical certificate of still-birth will be issued by the
doctor or midwife who examined the body or who were present at the
birth. This certificate is necessary to register the still-birth at
the Registration Office. The information, is recorded in the
still-birth register and the person registering the still-birth
signs the record.
Registration can sometimes, in extenuating circumstances, be
carried out at the hospital.
If you prefer, you can go to any other Registation Office in
England and Wales to give the details of the stillborn baby, but
the birth will not be registered there. The details will be
forwarded by post to the registration district where the baby was
born and he/she will complete the registration from the information
you have supplied. This is called registering a stillbirth by
declaration.
Who can register a still-birth?
If the parents of the child were married to each other at the
time of the still-birth either the mother or the father may
register.
If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the
still-birth, information about the father may be entered in the
register only in the following circumstances:
- the mother and father go to the register office and sign the
still-birth register together, or
- where the father is unable to go to the register office with
the mother, the father may make a statutory declaration
acknowledging his paternity which the mother must produce to the
registrar (this form may be obtained from any registrar in England
or Wales), or where the mother is unable to go to the register
office with the father the mother may make a statutory declaration
acknowledging the father's paternity which the father must produce
to the registrar (this form may be obtained from any registrar in
England or Wales).
If information about the father is not recorded, it may be
possible for the birth to be re-registered to include his details
at a later date, speak to the registrar about this.
Other people who may register still-births
Although the majority of still-births are registered by the
parents, sometimes neither the mother or the father are able to do
this. In these circumstances, the registrar will arrange for the
registration to be completed by whichever of the following people
is best able to do so:
- the occupier of the house or hospital where the child was
still-born
- a person who was present at the still-birth
- a person who is responsible for the still-born child
- the person who found the still-born child (where the date and
place of the still-birth are unknown).
Information required for the registration of a still-birth
Child:
- date and place of still-birth
- the forename(s) and surname, if the parents wish to name the
still-born child
- sex of the child.
Father (where this information is to be entered in the
register):
- forename(s) and surname
- date and place of birth
- occupation at the time of the still-birth or, if not employed
at that time, the last occupation.
Mother:
- forename(s) and surname
- maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
- date and place of birth
- occupation at the time of the still-birth or, if not employed
at that time, the last occupation
- usual address at the date of the still-birth
- date of marriage, if married to the still-born child's father
at the time of the still-birth
- number of previous children by the present husband and by any
former husband.
It is most important that the information recorded in the
still-birth register is correct. If any mistake is made, for
example in the spelling of a name or surname or in the description
of the father's or mother's occupation, it will give the parents or
the person who registered the still-birth some difficulty in having
it put right. The person registering the still-birth should check
the information to be recorded in the register very carefully
before the entry is signed. The parents must register the
still-birth personally as a relative or friend cannot register
instead of them.
What certificates will be issued?
- Certificate of registration: A certificate of
registration will be issued, free of charge, to the person who
registers the still-birth. This certificate provides proof that the
still-birth has been registered. Any names given to the still-born
child and entered in the register will be recorded on the
certificate of registration.
- Still-birth certificate: After a still-birth has been
registered, one or more certificates may be bought at the time of
registration or at any time afterwards by the mother or the father.
(The father's details would need to be recorded in the register
entry for him to be able to obtain a certificate). Any application
for a certificate from someone who is not the mother or father
should be directed to the Registrar's Office, giving full details
of the purpose for which the certificate is required.
- Certificate for burial or cremation: The registrar will issue a
certificate for the burial or cremation of the still-born
child. The certificate is normally passed to the funeral
director who is making the arrangements. A funeral cannot take
place until this certificate is given to the burial authority or
the crematorium. If there is a delay to the registration, it is
possible for a certificate for the burial to be issued before
registration provided the still-birth does not need to be reported
to the coroner. A certificate for cremation cannot be issued before
the registration.
For further advice on registering a still-birth please contact
Rochdale Register Office.