Registering a stillbirth - Print version

Where and when to register a stillbirth

By law, a still-born child is a child born after the 24th week of pregnancy who did not breathe or show any sign of life at any time after birth.

A child who breathed or showed other signs of life is considered live-born for registration purposes, no matter how far into the pregnancy they were born.

When a child is still-born, the doctor or midwife who was present at the birth or examined the body will issue a medical certificate of stillbirth. This will be emailed to the Register Office with the next of kin's contact details. The Register Office will then call to complete the registration.

Every stillbirth in England or Wales must be registered in the district in which it takes place, normally within 42 days. A stillbirth may not be registered more than three months after it happened. Information is given to the registrar and recorded in the stillbirth register.

Who can register a stillbirth

Parents married to each other

If the parents of the child were married to each other or in a civil partnership at the time of the stillbirth (or conception), either parent can register.

Parents not married to each other

If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the stillbirth (or conception), information about the father may be entered in the register only if:

• the mother and father go to the register office and sign the stillbirth register together, or
• where the father is unable to go to the register office with the mother -
  • the father can make a statutory declaration about his paternity which the mother must show to the registrar (this form is available from any registrar in England or Wales), or
• where the mother is unable to go to the register office with the father -
  • the mother can make a statutory declaration about the father's paternity which the father must show to the registrar (this form is available from any registrar in England or Wales).

If information about the father is not recorded, the birth can be re-registered to include his details at a later date. You can get more information about how to apply for the re-registration of a stillbirth.

Other people who may register stillbirths

Although the majority of stillbirths 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:

• the occupier of the house or hospital where the child was still-born
• a person who was present at the stillbirth
• 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 stillbirth are unknown).

Information to be supplied for the registration of a stillbirth

Child

• date and place of stillbirth
• 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 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

It is most important that the information recorded in the stillbirth 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 be difficult for the parents or other person who registered the stillbirth to have it put right.

If English is not the mother's or father's first language and help is needed with registering the stillbirth, it would be helpful for a relative or friend to be with them when the registrar calls and act as interpreter. But the parents must register the stillbirth 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 stillbirth. This certificate is proof that the stillbirth has been registered. Any names given to the still-born child and entered in the register will be recorded on the certificate of registration.

Stillbirth certificate

After a stillbirth has been registered, one or more certificates can be bought after the registration has taken place. The mother and father can get certificates at any time afterwards, but the father's details must be on the register for him to be able to buy a certificate. The fee for a certificate is £11.00. 

Any application for a certificate from someone who is not the mother or father should be sent to the General Register Office, Certificate Production 1, PO Box 2, Southport, PL8 2JD, giving full details of why the certificate is needed.

Certificate for burial or cremation

The registrar will issue a certificate for the burial (in a burial ground) or cremation (in a crematorium) 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 (in a burial ground) to be issued before registration as long as the stillbirth does not need to be reported to the coroner. A certificate for cremation cannot be issued before the registration.