Who can register
Opposite-sex parents
Married or civil partner parents
Either parent can register the birth on their own. They must include both parents’ details if they were married or in a civil partnership when the baby was born or conceived.
The law does not allow both parents to sign the register if they are married or in a civil partnership.
Unmarried, non-civil partner parents
The details of both parents can be included on the birth certificate if they both sign the birth register.
During the appointment, the registrar will need to interview both parents.
If the unmarried mother attends alone, the father will not be named on the birth certificate. But he can be added at a later time by Re-registering the birth.
Same-sex female parents
Married or civil partner parents
Either parent can register the birth on their own if both of these statements are true:
- the mother has a child by donor insemination or fertility treatment
- she was married or in a civil partnership at the time of the treatment
Unmarried, non-civil partner parents
When a mother is not married or in a civil partnership, her partner can be registered as the child’s second parent if both women:
- are treated together in the UK by a licensed clinic
- have made a ‘parenthood agreement’
For both parents’ details to be recorded on the birth certificate, they must both attend the appointment, and sign the register.
Same-sex male parents
Male couples must get a parental order (gov.uk) from the court before they can be registered as parents.
Please call us on 0345 60 80 198.
Other people who can register
In exceptional circumstances, if the parents cannot register the birth (for example, for medical reasons) certain other people can do it:
- Someone who was present at the birth
- Someone who is legally responsible for the child
- A member of the administrative staff at the hospital where the child was born
Please call us on 0345 60 80 198 to arrange to register in these circumstances.