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Registering a birth

Having a baby is an exciting and busy time, however it is important that you register your baby within 42 days from the date of birth.
Do not book an appointment to register a birth until you have received your child's discharge letter - without the discharge letter, the child cannot be registered.​​

Where to register a birth

You must register a baby in the registration district in which the birth occurred within 42 days.  

New birth registrations now take place by booked appointment only at the East Ham Community Neighbourhood Centre:

East Ham Community Neighbourhood Centre
328 Barking Road
East Ham
London
E6 2RT
 Find East Ham Community Neighbourhood Centre on a map
If you are a resident in Newham and are unable to register the birth in the borough of where the birth occurred, it is sometimes possible for us to forward the details for you to the register office concerned.


However you will then need to wait for them to register the birth and then apply to them for the certificates.
 
If the baby was born in Scotland or Northern Ireland or any overseas country the birth will have to be registered in those countries.

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Who can register a birth

Married parents

Either the mother or father can register the birth on their own if they were married at the time of the birth.
 

Unmarried parents

If the parents were not married to each other, the father's details can only be entered in the register if:
  • the mother and father register the birth together
  • one parent completes a statutory declaration of parentage form and the other parent takes it to register the birth
  • either parent registers the birth with a document from the court giving the father parental responsibility.
If English is not the first language of the parents they can ask a friend or relative to help register the birth. However, the parent(s) must also be there, as a relative or friend cannot register instead of them.
 
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Information you must give to the registrar

Do not book an appointment to register a birth until you have received your child's discharge letter - without the discharge letter, the child cannot be registered by Newham's registration services.

Documents

You must bring your discharge papers and at least one type of identification:
  • passport
  • birth certificate
  • deed poll
  • driving licence
  • proof of address (such as a utility bill)
  • Council Tax bill
  • marriage or civil partnership certificate.
You must bring identification for both parents of the child - even if only one of you comes to the register office to register the birth.

Child

  • date and place of the birth
  • name, surname and sex of the baby
You must decide on your baby's name and surname before you visit the register office. You might not be able to change the name after you have registered the birth.

Father (if his details are to be entered in the Register)

  • name and surname
  • date and place of birth
  • job at the time of the child's birth or, if he was not working at the time, his last job.

Mother

  • name and surname, plus her maiden name if she has ever been married
  • date and place of birth
  • job (optional), if she has been employed at any time before the birth
  • usual address at the date of the birth
  • date of marriage, if married to the child's father at the time of the birth
  • number of other children by the present partner and by any former partners.
The registrar will enter the information on to a computer and you will be asked to check that it is correct.
 
 

Certificate fees

All birth certificates costs £4 at the time of the birth and £10 for any additional certificates issued at a later date. 

From 1 November 2017, free birth certificates will no longer be issued.

Note, we do not accept cash. You must pay using your credit or debit card.
 
 

Book an appointment

Book an appointment to register a birth
Registrations take place by appointment only at:

East Ham Community Neighbourhood Centre
328 Barking Road
East Ham
London
E6 2RT
Make sure that you arrive in time for your appointment. If you reschedule an existing appointment, your original booking will be cancelled to free up space for other people.
Remember: do not book an appointment until you have received your child's discharge letter - without the discharge letter, the child cannot be registered.
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