Registering a stillbirth

When a child is stillborn, the doctor or midwife who was present at the birth or examined the baby, will issue a medical certificate of stillbirth. This certificate is required to register the stillbirth.

Every stillbirth in the Swindon registration district must be registered at Swindon Register Office. If it's difficult to attend the office, then it's possible to make a legal declaration at another register office instead.

Who can register a stillbirth

Parents married to each other

If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time of the stillbirth, either the mother or father may register.

Parents not married to each other

If the parents of the child were not married to each other at the time of the stillbirth, information about the mother of the child will always be included in the register.

Information about the father may only be included in the register if either:

• The mother and father attend the register office and sign the register together
• Either parent attends the register office with a statutory declaration acknowledging parentage from the other partner

Although the majority of stillbirths are registered by the parents, if it is difficult for them to attend, another person might be able to attend to provide the information instead. This could, for example, be done by someone from the hospital where the stillbirth took place. Contact the Registration Service for further information.

Information you will need to provide

The following information must be supplied to the registrar.

About the child

• Date and place of stillbirth
• Forename(s) and surname, if the parents wish to name the child
• Sex of the child

About the father

Required only where the information is to be included in the registration.

• Forename(s) and surname
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation

About the mother

• Forename(s) and surname
• Maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation
• Usual address at the date of the stillbirth
• Date of marriage, if married to the father of the child
• Number of previous children by her present partner or by any previous partner