Register a birth
You can arrange an appointment with us to register a birth. You will need to take certain documents and information with you to the appointment and pay a fee if you require a birth certificate.
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When and where
Births must be registered at one of our registrar’s offices within 42 days of the baby being born.
Our offices are in:
Births outside South Gloucestershire
If the baby was born in England or Wales, but outside South Gloucestershire – for example at Southmead Hospital, Bristol – and you cannot get to the nearest register office to register the birth, you can phone 01454 863140 to book an appointment at one of our register offices.
We will take all the details of the birth and pass them onto the registrars for that area. This is called making a declaration. We cannot issue the birth certificate. You will need to apply to the register office where your baby was born after the appointment, usually online or over the phone.
Who can register
If you are married at the time of the birth, either parent can register the birth.
If you are not married and you want the details of the father to appear on the birth certificate, both of you need to attend to register the birth and sign the register or declaration.
If the father’s name is not included on the birth certificate at the time of the registration, it can be entered later. Contact a registrar if you would like to do this. It is important that the information in the register is correct.
How to book an appointment
To register the birth of a baby born in South Gloucestershire, you can phone 01454 863140 or email registrationservice@southglos.gov.uk to book an appointment.
Information and documents required
When you go to your appointment you will need:
The baby’s
- first names and surname
- date and place of birth
- sex (male or female)
The mother’s
- full names and surname including any previous surnames
- date and place of birth
- address
- current (or last) job
- date of marriage (if applicable)
- number of previous children
The father’s (optional)
- full name and surname
- date and place of birth
- current (or last) job
- address
You will also need to take documents for:
- proof of your identity – passport, birth certificate or photo driving licence
- proof of your address – photo driving licence (if address details are correct), council tax bill, latest utility bill, recent bank statement (these may be printed from your own computer)
- child’s health record book (usually known as the “red book”)
Issue of certificates
If the baby was born in South Gloucestershire you can purchase a full birth certificate at the time of registration.
We can accept debit and credit card (Visa and Mastercard) payments for the certificates we issue at the time of registration.
You can also order a replacement birth certificate.