Every birth in England or Wales must be registered in the Registration District in which it takes place within 42 days of the date of birth.

You can register a birth that took place anywhere in the areas covered by Lancashire County Council by going to any of its registration offices. All Lancashire County Council registration offices work on an appointment basis. You can get on appointment by contacting the office of your choice.

The main Act and regulations governing the registration of births and death are:

• Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (as amended).
• The Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987 (as amended).
• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Welsh Language) Regulations 1987 (as amended).

You can obtain information on registering a birth in Scotland or Northern Ireland by using the following websites:

• General Register Office Scotland
• General Register Office Northern Ireland

The baby does not need to be taken to the registrar's office to show that the birth has taken place. The local health authority or the hospital where the birth occurred will notify the registrar of the birth.

If the parents of the child were married to each other at the time of the birth (or conception), either the mother or the father may register. 

If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the child's birth (or conception), the father's particulars may be entered in the register only in the following circumstances:

• the mother and father go to the register office and sign the birth register together.
  

  or

• where the father is unable to go to the register office with the mother-
  the father may make a statutory declaration acknowledging his paternity which the mother must produce to the registrar.
  (This form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales or download the form in pdf format),

  or

• where the mother is unable to go to the register office with the father-
  the mother may make a statutory declaration acknowledging the father's paternity which the father must produce to the registrar.
  (This form may be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales or download the form in pdf format),

  or

• where the mother and father have made a parental responsibility agreement or either has obtained an appropriate court order-
  the agreement or order should be produced to the registrar by either parent.

Other people who may register births

If the mother or father are not able to register the birth the registrar will arrange for the registration to be completed by whichever of the following people is best able to do so:

• The occupier of the house or hospital where the child was born
• A person who was present at the birth
• A person who is responsible for the child

Child

• Date and place of birth; if the birth is one of twins, triplets, etc. the time of each child's birth will also be needed
• Sex of the child
• The firstname(s) and surname in which it is intended that the child will be brought up
• The form giving baby's birthweight and National Health Service Number, which will have been supplied by either the hospital or the midwife

Father

(Where this information is to be entered in the register)

• Firstname(s) and surname
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation at the time of the child's birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation

Mother

• Firstname(s) and surname
• Maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation at the time of the child's birth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
• 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 previous children

It is most important that the information recorded in the birth register is correct. If a mistake is made it will be difficult for the person who registered the birth to have it corrected. The person registering the birth should check the information to be recorded in the register very carefully before the entry is signed.

You can obtain further information about correcting particulars in a birth registration by contacting any registration office for advice.

If English is not the mother's or father's first language and help is needed with registering the birth, it would be helpful for a relative or friend to accompany them to the registrar's office and act as interpreter. However, the parents must register the birth personally as a relative or friend cannot register instead of them.