Birth registering

About this service

All births, by law, must be registered within 42 days with a Registrar of Births and Deaths. You can register a birth through any Register Office in England and Wales. However the registration will be recorded in the district where it occurred and the certificate will be issued and sent out by post. Any Registrar will take a declaration from you but will not be able to issue the certificate. They will send the declaration to the correct office for registration.

There are four main offices in Wiltshire and opening hours and days vary. All registration offices operate an appointment system to prevent unnecessary waiting; therefore it is advisable to telephone to make an appointment. The registration takes approximately 20 - 30 minutes. The Registration Officer will give parents a short birth certificate, showing the child's details only.

Needs

You will need to provide the following information to the register:

The place and date of birth of the baby;
The baby's name, surname and sex;
The baby's parents' names, surnames, places of birth and occupations;
Address at time of birth;
Mother's maiden name and any previous names used.

Payment

The service is free of charge. The parents will have the opportunity to purchase a full birth certificate (which includes parents' details) for the fee of £3.50. The fee increases to £7.00 if a certificate is purchased at a later date when a register is completed.

Eligibility

Either parent of the baby provided they were married to each other at the time of the birth
If the parents were not married, only the mother of the baby can register. If the father's details are to be recorded both parents usually need to be present.

If you are unsure our staff will be pleased to explain further.

Contact Details

Wiltshire Register Office location and hours
Email: trowbridgeregisteroffice@wiltshire.gov.uk

Chippenham Registration Office location and hours
Email: chippenhamregisteroffice@wiltshire.gov.uk

Devizes Registration Office location and hours
Email: devizesregisteroffice@wiltshire.gov.uk

Salisbury Registration Office location and hours
Email: salisburyregistrationoffice@wiltshire.gov.uk