Registering a birth in Kent
All births must be registered with a Registrar of Births and
Deaths in the area where the birth occurred. They must be
registered within 6 weeks (42 days) of the date of birth.
What do I need to do first?
You will need to call KCC's contact centre on 08458 247 400 to
make an appointment to register the birth. Alternatively, you can
make an appointment using KCC's
online service (this link opens in a new
window).
Please Note: Kent does not include the Medway Towns (Chatham,
Gillingham, Rochester, Strood) or the London Boroughs of Bexley or
Bromley. Any births occurring in these areas must be registered
there. If you are unsure where you need to register please call
08458 247 400 for advice. You can find out more about our
Register Offices here.
Who can register a birth?
• Either parent provided they were married to each other at the
date of the child's birth.
• Where the parents of a child are not married to each other on the
date of the child's birth, both the natural mother and the natural
father will need to attend the registration together for the
natural father's details to be included in the birth register and
on the birth certificate. If the natural father details are entered
he will gain equal parental responsibility with the mother.
• If the mother is not married to the baby's father and registers
the birth alone, the father's details are not entered in the
register. It may be possible at a later date to make a new entry in
the register to include the father's details and at the same time,
have the child's surname changed to the father's surname.
What happens when I see the Registrar?
The Registrar will ask you to confirm the following
information:
• When and where the birth took place
• Full name/s of the child/ children and the correct spelling
• Full names of the parent/s and the correct spelling
• Address and occupation of parents
• Dates and places of birth of parents
• If the parents are married - the date of marriage and the
mother's maiden name
• Baby's NHS number (if you have this)
Naming your baby
When you see the Registrar you will be asked:
"What are the full names and surname in which your child will be
brought up?"
The names recorded in the birth register will appear on the
birth certificate.
The surname given at this time cannot be changed other than by
re-registration or adoption.
Where the parents are not married at the time of the birth and
later marry each other, they should apply for a re-registration and
change the child's surname at that stage.
You will be asked to check the information recorded very
carefully and to sign that it is correct. It is important that the
information recorded is accurate, as the correction of errors
discovered after the register has been signed may cause delay and
inconvenience.
The registrar will then give you:
• A free short birth certificate (this only shows limited
information)
• A magazine explaining Kentish Welcoming Ceremonies
• A free library Bookstart pack
Do I have to pay a fee?
No. The service is free of charge.
Do I need further copies of the birth certificate?
A full birth certificate (which shows all the information
recorded in the register) is required when applying for a passport
for your child and you can buy copies from the Registrar when you
register. Additional birth certificates can also be bought at a
later date by telephoning 08458 247 400 or ordered using our
online service (link opens in a new window).
Payment may be made by credit or debit card.
I want to register the birth but I don't live in Kent?
If the birth occurred in Kent and you do not live in Kent, it is
possible to give the details to any registrar in England or Wales.
This is known as registering by declaration. The Registrar to whom
the declaration is given does not register the birth, but will send
the information to the Kent Register Office in Maidstone, where it
will be registered. You may also order full birth certificates. A
charge is made for these and you will need to have a cheque and
cheque card or postal order when you give the declaration. The
Registrar will send the order and cheque/postal order to the Kent
Register Office.
Once the birth has been registered at the Kent Register Office
you will normally be sent:
• A free short birth certificate
• Copies of prepaid full birth certificates
These arrangements also apply if you live in Kent but need to
register a birth occurring elsewhere in England or Wales but do not
wish to travel to where the birth occurred.
If you are unsure where you need to register please call 08458
247 400 for advice.
Birth Service - Helping you tell the people who need to
know
When you have a baby, there are a number of Government
departments and local authority services that need to be told. If
your baby was born in Kent you can participate in a new telephone
service which will make it easier for you. Find out more about
A Birth Service.
Parental responsibility
Unmarried fathers may automatically obtain equal parental
responsibility for their child if they attend with the mother to
register the birth and their details are recorded in the birth
entry. If an unmarried father is unable to attend in person with
the mother then his details can be recorded in the birth entry by
statutory declaration acknowledging paternity. If parents are
unsure please ask to speak to registration staff when an
appointment is made.
Marriage of a child's natural parents - 're-registration'
The status of children born to parents who are not married to
each other changes if and when the parents do marry each other, and
it is in the child's interest that his/her entry of birth is
updated to reflect this. You can get an application form to
re-register a birth from any Register Office. Please telephone
08458 247 400 for further information or to book an appointment.
Alternatively, you can use our
online service (this link opens in a new
window) to book an appointment to re-register a birth.
Commemorative Certificate
You can also buy personalised commemorative
certificates to celebrate the birth.
Commemorative certificates are the only certificate which
records the birth weight of your child and gives you the unique
opportunity to record a personal message. These can be presented
to family and friends.
A Kentish Welcoming Ceremony
You will also be given a copy of our "Welcoming Ceremony"
booklet. Welcoming ceremonies are special non-religious
celebrations that allow parents, and their friends and relatives,
to welcome the new baby or child into the family. For further
details telephone 08458 247 400 or visit our dedicated ceremonies
website at www.akentishceremony.com (link opens in a new
window).
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us
on 08458 247 400. |