Births, deaths and ceremonies Registering a still birth

We know this can be a difficult time for parents and families and we will do our best at Shropshire Registration Service to make the registration process as easy and efficient as possible.

If the still birth occurred in Shropshire, please call 0345 678 9016 to book an appointment.

To be clear, a still birth is a child born after 24 weeks gestation and who has not taken a breath. These are terrible circumstances for any parent and we will do our best to help. If you've experienced a loss before 24 weeks you can apply for a baby loss certificate.

How quickly can or should the still birth be registered?

It's possible to register the still birth as soon as you feel ready to. Please note however that it's a legal requirement for the still birth to be registered within 42 days.

Where can the still birth be registered?

A still birth may only be registered in the registration district in which it took place. If you are not able to attend that office to register the still-birth then you can go to any other register office in England or Wales to register by declaration. This means certificates cannot be issued at the appointment and they would need to be obtained following this from the district in which the still-birth occurred. If you have any questions about registering by declaration please call us on 0345 678 9016 or email us at registrars@shropshire.gov.uk

Who is able to register the still birth?

If the parents were married to each other at the time of the still birth then either the mother or father may register. One of them may attend on their own or they both may attend together.

If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the still birth then only the mother may register. She should attend with the father if she would like his details to be included on the certificate.

We regret that a friend or relative may not register the still-birth on behalf of the parents. There are special circumstances which allow for alternative informants should you require more details please call us on 0345 678 9016.

What information needs to be supplied to the registrar?

In order to register a still birth, the hospital will send directly to us the Medical Certificate of Cause of Still birth If the still birth has been referred to the coroner’s office, please call us on 0345 678 9016.

When you attend the appointment to register the still birth, the Registrar will need to know the following information:

Information about the still born child

• The date and place of still birth
  
• The name of the child if one has been chosen

Information about the mother

• The mother’s forenames and surname (a maiden surname will also be required if the mother is, or ever has been, married)
  
• The mother’s date and place of birth (town and country if born in the UK; country if born overseas)
  
• The mother’s usual address at the time of birth
  
• The mother’s occupation (if the mother is no longer working but had been employed at any time before the birth this occupation can be entered in the register if the mother so wishes)
  
• The total number of previous children
  
• If the mother was married to the baby’s father at the time of the birth the registrar will need to know the date of that marriage
  

Information about the father/second parent  (Where these details are to be entered in the register)

• The father’s / second parent forenames and surname
  
• The father’s/ second parent  date and place of birth (town and country if born in the UK; country if born overseas)
  
• The father’s / second parent occupation at the time of the baby’s birth or, if he was not employed at that time, the occupation he last followed
  
• The father’s/ second parent  address (if he is not married to the mother and not living at the same address)

It's most important that the information recorded in the register is correct. If a mistake is made in the register entry, it may not be possible to make a correction so we encourage you to spend a few extra minutes double-checking the registration details at the end of the appointment. If a correction is possible, we regret that a statutory fee of up to £99 per correction applies depending on the type of correction.

Book an appointment 

To book an appointment please telephone 0345 678 9016. For enquiries, please email registrars@shropshire.gov.uk