Register a birth

You must register the birth of your child within 42 days of the birth.     

Where to find help

• Telephone: 0300 123 7037
• Find your nearest register office

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. A full birth certificate (or an additional short certificate) costs £4 if bought at the time of registration. 

You can order certificates at a later date, the fee will be either £7 or £10.

Further information

• Registering and naming your baby - Gov.uk
• Adding a parent's details to a birth certificate - Gov.uk

You can also celebrate the arrival of a new family member with a naming ceremony.