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.

Register office

Telephone: Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm. Building opening times: 9.00am - 4.30pm Mondays and Wednesdays, 10.00am - 4.30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.00am - 4.00pm Fridays.

Address: Cheylesmore Manor House
Manor House Drive
Coventry
CV1 2ND

Telephone: 024 7683 3141