Making an appointment to register the birth of your baby

After reading through the attached information sheet, if you require an appointment to register the birth of your baby, please go online at

www.cumberland.gov.uk or www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
  • This gives 24 hour access to the diary booking system as well as all the background information you need
  • If you are unable to use the online system you can telephone 0300 373 3730 for Cumberland or 0300 373 3300 for Westmorland and Furness however there will be high call volumes so would always recommend online booking
  • Frontline offices are fully engaged with appointments so please avoid calling in to book an appointment as you will be faced with a lengthy wait until someone can help, and you will not be offered an appointment the same day.         
Important Information regarding the registration of your child’s birth
When should the birth be registered?

You have a legal duty to register your baby’s birth within 42 days.

The birth can be registered at any of the offices in Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness.  If you prefer you can attend any other registrar’s office in England and Wales to make a declaration of the birth. The declaration is then sent to local areas so they can  register the birth. This will cause a delay and you will need to order certificates online after it has been registered.

If baby was not born in Cumbria?

You should contact the office in the district where baby was born for an appointment.  If you prefer you can attend any office in Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness and we would send the declaration to the district where the birth occurred so they may register the birth and the certificates would be ordered from them.

Who can register the birth if the parents are married?

Both mother and father of the child, if they were married at the time of baby’s birth automatically have parental responsibility.  It is possible for the parents to attend together or for either party to register baby alone

Who can register the birth if the parents are unmarried?

If the parents are not married to each other the father will acquire parental responsibility when the birth is registered or re-registered to include the father’s details where he and the mother have acknowledged that he is the father of the child.  An unmarried father can also obtain parental responsibility by later marrying the child’s mother, by making a parental responsibility agreement with her or by getting a court order. 

You may wish to think about this if you have other children.  If you need further information or advice please call one of our offices listed overleaf or call Family Lives on 0808 800 2222 or obtain legal advice.

Please note if you are not married to baby’s father it is generally in your baby’s best interests to have the father’s details included in the entry.  If this is not possible at the time of registration it may be possible for this to be done at a later date.

If the parents are not married to each other at the time of baby’s birth the father’s details can only be entered in to the register in the following circumstances:-

Where both mother and father attend together before the registrar to register the birth or where the father is unable to attend with the mother, it is possible for him to make a statutory declaration acknowledging his paternity which you should produce to the registrar.           

Copies of this form may be obtained from any registrar in England and Wales.  The mother will also have to make a declaration but this is done at the time of registration or where the mother is unable to attend the Registrar’s office with the father. It is possible for her to make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father’s paternity, which the father should produce to the Registrar. 

He will also have to make a declaration at the time of registration. This would only be done in extreme circumstances or where mother and father have made a parental responsibility agreement or either of you has obtained an appropriate court order this should be produced to the Registrar and the birth registered by either of you to include the father’s details.

If you and your female partner are the baby’s parents, as provided for by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, the references in this leaflet to the father and marriage should be read as meaning the female partner and civil partnership or marriage respectively.

What information will I have to supply at the registration?

It is important that you take the time to ensure you have given the correct information, but also that the Registrar has recorded it correctly.  Please note after the registration has been completed, any applications to correct the entry will incur a charge of up to £90.  Payment of this fee does not guarantee the correction will be granted and fees paid will not be refunded if the request is denied

Baby’s information:
  • The date and place of baby’s birth
  • If the birth is one of twins, triplets etc. then the time of each baby’s birth will also be required
  • Whether the baby is a boy or a girl
  • The forenames and surname in which it is intended that the baby will be brought up. A baby may be registered with any surname but if the surname is not the mother’s or the father’s this may cause difficulties for the child in later life.  If parents are not married to each other and the baby is registered in the mother’s surname it may be changed to the father’s surname later if the couple marry and subsequently re-register the birth.  If a baby of unmarried parents is given the father’s surname this can not be changed at a later date.
  • You will be asked to bring the Birth Notification provided by the hospital
Parent’s information 
  • Forenames and surname at the time of the birth and any other names they may have used
  • Date and place of birth
  • Occupation at the time of baby’s birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation.
  • Any documents such as passport/birth certificate to confirm these details may be helpful during the Registration.
If either parent is not British?

If you or baby’s father hold a nationality other than British, it may be worthwhile making enquiries with the relevant embassy before registering the birth to establish if there are any naming customs which need to be considered, as problems may arise later eg when applying for baby’s passport.

If English is not your first language and you would like someone to help you with the registration, please feel free to ask a relative or friend to accompany you to the Registrar’s Office.  Otherwise if you contact one of our offices we will be happy to assist you in this process. Please remember that you must register the birth personally, you cannot ask a relative or friend to attend instead of you.

What certificates will I receive?

A full birth certificate is a complete copy of the entry in the register.  A full copy is generally required for most purposes and these can be purchased for a fee. They also offer commemorative certificates which can be a lovely gift for grandparents. These can also be purchased for a fee. Further copies of all certificates can be purchased online at a later date from Certificate Services at www.cumberland.gov.uk or www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Where can I get further advice on registering my baby’s birth?

Should you require further clarification of any of the points raised in this leaflet or if you are uncertain of how to proceed with the registration of your baby’s birth,

including if your baby was conceived as a result of fertility treatment, please telephone our office for advice on 0300 373 3730

Office locations – by appointment only

Lady Gillford’s House, Carlisle

Whitehaven Library

County Offices, Kendal

The Library, Penrith

Nan Tait Centre, Barrow

 

 

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302