Register a birth
Updated - 3 January 2024
Visiting the register office
The Register Office is located in the main reception of the Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY.
If you are late for your appointment unfortunately we will not be able to go ahead with the registration, you will asked to make a new appointment at a later date.
Only adults required to attend the appointment should do so, no other adults will be admitted into the appointment.
You do not need to bring your baby to the appointment. We request that, where possible, you do not bring other children to your appointment.
If you are able to please bring your own black pen (biro or gel) to sign the registration paperwork. A pen will be supplied if you do not bring one with you.
We are currently only able to accept payment by debit / credit card. We are unable to accept American Express or Electron cards. We are unable to take payment by Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Every birth must be registered within 42 days of the child being born
How do I register a birth?
Births are registered in the district where they took place. If your baby was born in Hartlepool you can complete the registration at our office. If your baby was born elsewhere in England or Wales you can attend our office to complete a birth declaration; this will then be sent to the relevant register office for the birth to be registered.
To make an appointment at our office complete an appointment request form or call 01429 523337
Who can register a birth?
Parents who are married or in a civil partnership
Either the mother or father / parent can register the birth on their own if they were married to each other when the baby was born or conceived. Both parents' details will be included on the certificate.
Parents who are not married or in a civil partnership
Both parents' details can be included on the birth certificate if they do one of the following:
- both parents go and sign the birth register together
- one parent goes to register the birth with a document from the court (for example, a court order) giving the father / parent parental responsibility
- one parent completes a statutory declaration of parentage form (external link) and the other takes the signed form to register the birth
The mother can choose to register the birth on her own if she isn't married to / in a civil partnership with the child's father / parent. The father's / parent's details would not be included on the birth certificate. It might be possible to add the father's / parent's details at a later date by re-registering the birth.
What information do I need?
You will be asked:
- the place and date of the birth
- the time of the birth, if a multiple birth
- first name, surname and sex of the baby
- parents' first names, surnames and addresses
- places and dates of parents' birth
- the date of parents' marriage or civil partnership
- parents' jobs at the time of the birth
- mother's maiden surname if she is, or has ever been, married
- number of children the mother has had
The baby's hospital discharge papers show the birth information - these are normally in the front of their child health record ('red book') or in a black folder given to you by the hospital / your midwife.
It is helpful to bring documents to your appointment so the correct spellings of all names and addresses are recorded. This could be a passport, driving licence, utility bill, birth or marriage certificate.
Do not worry if any of these documents are not available, the registrar can still register the birth.
It is important that the information entered into the register is right as mistakes can be difficult to correct and will incur a fee of up to £90.
If English is not your first language we request that you bring someone along with you to translate - they do not have to be a professional, they can be a friend or family member.
How much does it cost?
There is no fee to register a birth.
Birth certificates
There are two types of birth certificate:
- the short version, which contains only the baby’s details
- the full version, which also contains the parents’ details
A full certificate is required for a passport application.
If your baby was born in Hartlepool certificates can be purchased at the time of your appointment. Please note we are currently only able to accept payment by debit / credit card. We are unable to accept American Express or Electron cards. We are not able to take payment by Apple Pay or Google Pay.
If your baby was born elsewhere in England or Wales you will be able to order certificate from the relevant register office once the birth has been registered.
How do I make an appointment?
Registrations are by appointment only. To make an appointment at our office complete an appointment request form or call 01429 523337.
How do I change my appointment?
Please contact our office by telephone - 01429 523337 - to cancel or reschedule your appointment
