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31 July 2010 |
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You are here >> Home >> Births, Deaths & Marriages
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Registering a Birth
Guidance Notes
Why register a birth?
By law all births occurring in Northern Ireland must be registered. You will require proof of the birth for various purposes including claiming child benefit and registering your baby with a doctor. A birth must be registered within 42 days of the date of birth.
Who can register the birth?
It is the primary responsibility for the mother or the father to register the birth. If this is not possible then the following people can register the birth:-
- a grand mother, grandfather, aunt or uncle of the baby who has knowledge of the birth
- the occupier of the premises in which the baby was born (this includes the matron, governor, superintendent or chief officer)
- any person present at the birth
- any person having charge of the child
In the case of a child born to parents who are not married to each other, the mother would normally register the birth.
However, the father's name may be recorded if both parents register the birth together or a declaration of paternity is produced. In exceptional cases if the mother is not available the father may register the birth it a declaration of parentage, certain specified court orders or parental responsibility agreements are produced. Please see additional notes overleaf or ask the Registrar for advice.
What is the purpose of registration?
The records provide positive information about individuals and are used for many legal and administrative purposes(for example; National Insurance, Education, Transfer of Property, Employment. Obtaining a Passport, etc.)
They provide valuable statistics (for example: Fertility Rates, Population Estimates, etc) The statistics are published yearly in the Registrar General Annual Report.
Some of the information collected is for statistical purposes only. Because this information is strictly confidential it does not appear on the birth certificate.
Where can the birth be registered?
In the Registrar's District where the birth took place, or where the mother normally lived at the time of birth.
Registrar's addresses and telephone numbers can be found on the attached form. They can also be found in the telephone book and Yellow Pages under Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages and at www.groni.gov.uk/contacts.asp.
What will the registrar give you?
Once the registration is completed, the Registrar will issue the following forms:-
One free short birth certificate will be issued automatically at the time of registration, and an Infant Registration Form HS123 to register with the family doctor and obtain a medical card.
JOINTLY REGISTERING YOUR BABY'S BIRTH IMPORTANT NOTES FOR UNMARRIED PARENTS
Who is responsible for children?
Married parents are both responsible in law for their children. They both have parental responsibility. Until now unmarried parents have not both had parental responsibility. Unmarried mothers have it automatically but unmarried fathers have to apply for it, either by filling in an agreement form or by going to Court.
Most people thought unmarried fathers could get parental responsibility by jointly registering their child's birth. Up until now that wasn't true but the law changed on 15 April 2002.
Now unmarried fathers Can get parental responsibility simply by jointly registering the birth of their child.
How do we jointly register the birth?
There are three ways to give an unmarried father parental
responsibility under the new law.
They are:-
1. The mother and father together can ask the Registrar to record both their names on the birth certificate. Then the mother and father each sign the register, in the other's presence.
2. The mother alone can ask the Registrar to put the father's name on the birth Certificate. She has to fill in a Declaration form saying that this person is the baby's father. The Registrar will only put the father's name on if the father fills in and signs a Declaration form which must be witnessed by a relevant person. The Registrar can give you the forms and advice.
3. The father alone can ask the Registrar to put his name on the birth Certificate. Me has to fill in a Declaration form saying that he is the baby's father. The Registrar will only put the father's name on if the mother also fills in and signs a Declaration form. The Registrar can give you the forms.
What is parental responsibility?
The law says that parental responsibility is ''all the rights, duties, powers, responsibility and authority which by law, a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property. It enables you to look after your children and do everything they need for their wellbeing.
It gives you the right to make important decisions about your child's life - like who they should live with or where they should go to School.
It means you are the person who consents to medical treatment for your child. There is no complete list of decisions that someone with parental responsibility can take for a child, because so many different decisions can come up.
Even if you don't have parental responsibility for your child, the law says you have to help pay for their upbringing.
Which of us can make the decisions?
People with parental responsibility can take most decisions about a child's upbringing or welfare either together or separately. Any person with parental responsibility can make a decision about the child without having to consult any other person with parental responsibility. There are, however, some exceptions set out in law.
When does parental responsibility end?
Parental responsibility ends for all parents when the child reaches 18 and becomes an adult. When an unmarried father has got parental responsibility by jointly registering the child's birth a Court Order can bring his parental responsibility to an end. The people who can apply for an order are:-
- Someone else with parental responsibility like the child's mother
- The child, if the judge agrees to the application being heard.
What about my Other Children?
The new law only applies to children born on or after 15th April 2002. It you are an unmarried father and want to get parental responsibility for your older children, you can:-
Make a parental responsibility agreement with the child's mother and register it with the Office of Care and Protection at the High Court in Belfast.
Get a Court Order.
What it I’m not sure?
You don't have to jointly register your child's birth and both parents have to agree. Some people don't want to.
If you aren't sure about joint registration after reading this leaflet don't just go ahead. Tell the Registrar you need a few days to think about it.
You could also talk to a Solicitor about anything that is worrying you or contact other organisations offering support and advice to parents.
 RegistrationOfABirth.pdf
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