This can be complicated and depends on the family circumstances:
- If the parents are married to each other when the baby is born, then either the mother or the father can register the birth
- If the parents are not married and they would like the father's details to be included in the register either both parents will need to attend
- Or either the mother or father may attend with a Statutory Declaration or other legal documentation
Note that in registration there is a difference between a ‘civil partner’ and a ‘partner’:
Your ‘partner’ (ie someone you are not married to) is not legally linked to you for registration purposes. A ‘civil partner’ is someone of the same sex with whom you have been through a legal ceremony of formation of civil partnership.
Adding father’s details later
If the parents are not married, the mother does not have to have baby’s father’s details included in the register if she does not wish to.
The mother needs to be very sure about leaving baby’s father’s details off the register however, as adding his name at a later date would take a further more complicated appointment.
Re-registration
You can re-register your child if you get married to their natural father.
To re-register you should make an appointment at the registration office where the child was originally registered. If this is not possible they can be re-registered by making a declaration at any other registration office in England and Wales. To make an appointment telephone 01603 306149.
Before you can re-register, you will need to complete a LA1 form for each child. This can be obtained from any registration office or downloaded from GOV.UK. At the time of re-registration you will need to produce the completed LA1 form plus the child's full birth certificate and the parents’ marriage certificate.
Can someone other than the parents register the birth?
In certain exceptional circumstances someone other than the parents may register the birth.
Contact your local registration office if you need to ask for this option.