Registering a Birth

You must register a birth in the district in which the birth took place within 42 days (6 weeks).

If your baby was born in West Berkshire, please contact the West Berkshire Register Office to make an appointment. Birth registration is by appointment only. You will receive the baby's birth certificate at the end of the appointment.

If your baby was born in another district (eg in Reading, Basingstoke, Swindon, Oxford or elsewhere), please contact the register office in the district where the baby was born.

If you are unable to travel to the registering district where the baby was born, or you cannot make an appointment with that register office, you can make an appointment with us. During the appointment  we will ask you to sign a legal form which shows all the information needed to register the birth. We'll then send that form to the district where your baby was born. This is called 'registering by declaration'. The Registrars in the other district will register the birth and send you the birth certificate in the post; this can take a couple of weeks.
 

Who can register a birth?

If the parents of the baby are married to each other when baby is born, then either parent can register the birth.

If the baby's parents are not married to each other and they want the father's details to be shown on the register entry, then both parents must come to the Register Office to sign the paperwork together. If this is not possible, please contact the Register Office so that we can explain the alternative procedures available.
 

What does it cost to register a birth?

There is no charge to register a birth, however, there is a charge for birth certificates. Please see our price list page.

Certificates are issued on request once payment has been received.

If you have registered by declaration, you will need to pay the relevant registration district for the certificate. We will provide full details during the appointment.
 

What documents will I need to bring to the appointment?

You will need to bring the baby's national health number. This is usually found in the baby's "Red Book" or on any paperwork you have been issued with by the hospital/midwife.

To make sure that accurate information is recorded, please bring documents to confirm the identity of both parents (eg passport/driving licence/birth certificate), confirmation of the address of both parents (eg driving licence/utility bill) and if you are married, a copy of your marriage certificate.
 

Parental Rights and Responsibilities

A summary of Parental Rights and Responsibilities [107KB] .

West Berkshire Family Hubs provide free and low cost support to new families from birth to age 5.

For information about postnatal groups, baby groups, baby massage and feeding support in your area please visit our Family Hubs page, here.