Register a birth
You need an appointment with the Registrar to register the
birth of your child. You must do this within 42 days of the
birth.
If you live in Cheshire West and Chester you can make an appointment by phoning 0300 123 7037.
At your appointment the Registrar will record the details of the birth as a legal record.
Your appointment will take around 20 minutes.
It is free of charge to register a birth.
If your baby is born at the Countess of Chester Hospital you may be able to register the birth during your stay.
Birth certificates
The Registrar will give you a free short birth certificate showing the baby’s name, sex and date of birth.
However, for most legal purposes you will need a full birth certificate.
Birth certificate fees
A full birth certificate (or an additional short certificate) costs £4 if bought at the time of registration.
If you need a copy of either certificate at a later date, the fee will be either £7 or £10.
Further information
- Registering and naming your baby - Directgov
- Adding a parent's details to a birth certificate - DirectGov
You can also celebrate the arrival of a new family member with a naming ceremony.