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Why is registration necessary?

Stillbirths in England and Wales must normally be registered within 42 days of the stillbirth but cannot be registered more than 3 months after its occurrence. This can often be done at the hospital or, if not, at the local register office.

Stillbirth registration began on 1 July 1927 to help protect infant life. It gives parents the opportunity to have their child officially acknowledged and to give him or her names if they wish to. It is also an important source of historical and statistical information.

Who can register the stillbirth?

If the parents are married to each other, either parent can register the stillbirth. If the parents are not married to each other, then:

• if you want the father's details to be entered in the register, both parents can go and sign the stillbirth register together
• if the father is unable to go to the register office, but you still want his details included, he will need to make a statutory declaration acknowledging his paternity - you will need to give this to the registrar
• if the mother is unable to go to the register office with the father, she may make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father's paternity - you will need to give this to the registrar

You can add the father’s details at a later date by re-registering the stillbirth.

 If neither the mother nor father is able to attend, the following people can register:

• the occupier of the hospital or house where the stillbirth took place
• someone who was present at the stillbirth
• someone who is responsible for the stillborn child
• the person who found the stillborn child, where the date and place of the stillbirth are unknown
  

How to register the stillbirth

If the stillbirth has not been registered at the hospital, you can go to your local register office or another if more convenient. Please note that the process takes longer if you go to an office out of the district where the stillbirth happened.

You can find your local register office using the link below.

• Search for your local register office Opens new window

What information you will need

All you need to register a stillbirth is the medical certificate of stillbirth issued by the doctor or midwife.

The registrar asks for the following details:

Child

• date and place of stillbirth
• the forename(s) and surname, if the parents wish to name the stillborn child
• sex of the child

Father (if this information is to be entered in the register)

• forename(s) and surname
• date and place of birth
• occupation at the time of the stillbirth 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 stillbirth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
• usual address at the date of the stillbirth
• date of marriage, if married to the still-born child's father at the time of the stillbirth
• number of previous children by the present husband and by any former husband

The person registering the stillbirth should check the information very carefully before signing the register.

Changing the stillbirth record later

Although each stillbirth registration is an historic record of the facts, if errors are discovered, you are able to change or add details. You should contact the register office where the stillbirth was registered to carry out this process.

You can find your local register office using the link below.

The person who provided the original details, or the other parent, should apply for a correction with the original register office.

There is no charge for corrections or re-registrations, but if you would like a new certificate displaying the changes, you will need to buy one.

To order a certificate use the links below.

• Order a stillbirth certificate

• Search for your local register office Opens new window

For events in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You can contact the relevant General Register Office using the links below.

• General Register Office for Scotland Opens new window

• General Register Office for Northern Ireland Opens new window