On this page: How to register a birth in the Swindon registration district.
When a Birth Should Be Registered
The birth of a baby must be registered within 42 days of the date of birth.
Where a Birth Should Be Registered
The birth must be registered in the registration district where it occurred. In Swindon, this should be at Swindon Register Office.
If attending a particular register office is not convenient, then you can give the details at any register office in England or Wales and they will send the information to the register office of the district where the birth took place.
The register office of the district where the birth took place will post you any birth certificates you require and a form to let you register the baby with a doctor.
Appointments
The Swindon Register Office currently operates an appointments system - please contact the Registration Service to make an appointment.
Who Should Register
If the parents are married when the baby is born, either parent may register the birth.
If the baby's parents are not married, and they want the father's details to be included in the register, both parents must attend the office together to register the birth. If this is not possible, please contact a registrar so that an alternative procedure can be explained to you.
If the parents are not married, it is not necessary to have the father's details in the register. If his details are not entered at the time of registration, there are special procedures for them to be added later if required. There may be other options in some cases. Please contact a registrar for details.
Parental Responsibility for Unmarried Couples
Unmarried fathers have equal parental responsibility if both parents register the birth of their baby together.
This can provide him with important legal rights and responsibilities. Without it, he does not have any right to be involved in decisions such as where they live, their education, religion or medical treatment.
With parental responsibility, he is treated in law as the child's parent, and takes equal responsibility for bringing him or her up.
Unlike married parents, a father who is not married to the baby's mother does not automatically have parental responsibility for him or her.
It's also possible to gain parental responsibility by later marrying the child's mother, signing an official agreement with her, or getting a court order. This might be important for those with other children.
What Happens in the Registration
You will be seen by a registrar in private and asked questions about the baby and his or her parents.
The registrar will write the details in the birth register and also enter them onto a computer.
You will be asked to check the information entered in the register carefully and to sign that it is correct.
Information Needed to Register
The date and place of birth (if the birth is one of twins, triplets, etc, then the times of all individual births will also be needed)
The baby's forename(s), surname and sex
The baby's parents' names, surnames and places of birth (if both parents are to be shown in the entry)
The baby's parents' occupations
The baby's mother's address
The baby's mother's maiden name and if she has been married more than once, the name she was using to contract her last marriage
The date of the baby's parents' marriage and number of previous children from this or any previous marriage
The Documents You Will Receive
You will receive a short certified copy of the entry in the register. This isn't the full certificate (which, for example, you will need to send with a passport application).
You will also receive a form to register the baby with a doctor.
Extra Copies of Birth Certificates
Extra certified copies of short and full certificates can be supplied for a fee - please see Registration Services - Certificates.
Stillbirth
Please see Stillbirth Registration.