Cheshire West & Chester Council logo

Register a birth

Baby sleepingYou must register the birth of your child within 42 days of the birth.     

Where to find help

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

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