The Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987

[^key-ee2d45335246996becce7e1ddc0d28cb]: Reg. 41 omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(5)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-5afe2089dce86f196a68463853b0a7b4]: Reg. 42 heading substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(6)(a) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-512efdb542b8c3d0f6e95461200fca9d]: Reg. 42(1)(1A) substituted for reg. 42(1) (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(6)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-1d608331e3a1b12cc3d4636ea6c964c2]: Reg. 42(4) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(6)(c) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-1e8b065e655da0a737c8ad4ef5a1bdc2]: Word in reg. 42A(3) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(7)(a) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-271c28618b78e0b292809e69169661a2]: Words in reg. 42A(4)(b) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(7)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-fa3f8c12d739164f7a6aceb97c5b956d]: Reg. 43 substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(8)

[^key-ab1ff80aa245e3e2f7e5d92f3d2d0ae3]: Words in reg. 44 substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(10)(a)

[^key-73da959c1db1148a1845c2ccd207acf9]: Words in reg. 44 substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(10)(b)

[^key-949dc1b8a7ad3a62d54f02e621fbd011]: Word in reg. 44A substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(11)

[^key-f430a053ee5d28289a7fec8acf84a1db]: Words in reg. 45 heading inserted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(12)(a)

[^key-9ca57f7c50dcaefc96f1c2364ebad0bc]: Words in reg. 45 substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(12)(b)

[^key-790aaae7611d23e4ea6b718dfd66c788]: Words in reg. 46 omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(13) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-0e41d962f1c222c3a3fc867496b35152]: Reg. 47 omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(14) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-f1ca99aca8eba2453f175091e5b95c3e]: Reg. 49(4) inserted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(15) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-df5b41668e24b96af822c12c62c92f9c]: Words in reg. 55(2)(f)(iii) inserted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(16)(a) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-def4d6fa84f31b4797363b9f216bfed2]: Words in reg. 55(2)(f)(v) substituted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(16)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-e6f59941551368181a5ace65f1febcb1]: Word in reg. 57 inserted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(17) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-9f5ae8581ceebad10d3553a924c3c41b]: Words in reg. 58 inserted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(18) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-aa141b3fcc911e41326bc32aabe3f456]: Sch. 2 form 22A form inserted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), reg. 1(2), Sch.

[^key-8a380e4f146a9f9c158756f3ac9b8528]: Sch. 2 form 22B inserted (9.9.2024) by The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), reg. 1(2), Sch.

[^key-562a316db9a39474bb77f65bb724ce57]: Sch. 2 form 14 form omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(21)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-fecdca19753755c3b6a6ceaf5b018b44]: Sch. 2 form 15 form omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(21)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

[^key-9df8693083d8bd44809214c54ab8ba78]: Sch. 2 form 16 form omitted (9.9.2024) by virtue of The Registration of Births and Deaths (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/885), regs. 1(2), 2(21)(b) (with art. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2024/904, arts. 1(2), 2)

PART VA — Re-registration of births after declaration of parentage or legitimacy

Particulars on re-registration

26A

Where under section 14A of the Act the Registrar General authorises the relevant registrar to re-register a birth, the relevant registrar shall—

• (a) copy the particulars recorded in the spaces of the authority into spaces 1 to 10 of form 1;

• (b) enter across such of spaces 11 to 14 as are needed for the purpose:—

• (i) if the re-registration follows a declaration under section 56(1)(a) of the Family Law Act 1986 the words “Pursuant to section 14A of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 on the authority of the Registrar General”; or

• (ii) if the re-registration follows a declaration under section 56(1)(b) of the Family Law Act 1986 the words “on the authority of the Registrar General”;

• (c) draw a line through any unused space; and

• (d) enter in space 15 the date on which the entry is made and sign the entry in space 16, adding his official description.

Noting of previous entry

26B

Where a birth is re-registered in accordance with regulation 26A, the superintendent registrar or registrar having custody of the register in which the birth was previously registered shall, when so directed by the Registrar General, note the margin of the previous entry with the words “Re-registered under section 14A of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, on ”, inserting the date of the re-registration.

Re-registration where person born at sea

26C

Where under section 14A of the Act the Registrar General authorises the re-registration of the birth of a person who was born at sea and whose birth was included in a return sent to the Registrar General, a person deputed for the purpose by the Registrar General shall on receiving the Registrar General’s authority effect re-registration by—

• (a) making the entry in a register to be kept at the General Register Office in form 7, copying the particulars recorded in the spaces of the authority into the corresponding spaces of the form;

• (b) noting in the margin of any previous record of birth in the custody of the Registrar General the words “Re-registered under section 14A of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, on ”, inserting the date of re-registration; and

• (c) sending a copy of the previous record, including a copy of the marginal note, certified under the seal of the General Register Office, to the authority from whom that record was received by the Registrar General.

Declaration by parent for registration of birth

Declaration by parent for re-registration of birth

FORM 2

DECLARATION/STATEMENT FOR THE REGISTRATION/RE-REGISTRATION OF A BIRTH

Regulations 8, 16, 17(3)(a)(ii) Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, ss.9(5), 10(1)(b)(i) and (c)(i) and 10A(1)(b)(i) and (c)(i)

FORM 6A

DECLARATION BY PARENT ON REQUEST FOR THE REGISTRATION OF A BIRTH

Regulation 9(4) and (4A) Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, s.10(1)(d)–(g)

FORM 6B

DECLARATION BY PARENT ON REQUEST FOR THE RE-REGISTRATION OF A BIRTH

Regulation 17(3) Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, s.10A(1)(d)–(g)

FORM 6B

DECLARATION BY PARENT ON REQUEST FOR THE RE-REGISTRATION OF A BIRTH

Regulation 17(3) Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, s.10A(1)(d)–(g)

Draft of particulars to be sent to the Registrar General

Transmission of draft particulars

70A

The draft particulars referred to in regulations 3, 11, 69 and 70 may, if prepared on approved forms be sent on such forms, or, if prepared electronically be transmitted electronically.

Quarterly returns

Offences and proceedings

Revocations and transitional provisions

Declaration and registration of a still-birth under section 9 of the Act

34A

• (1) In relation to a still-birth, the officer before whom a declaration for the purposes of section 9(1) of the Act (giving of information to a person other than the registrar may be made shall be any registrar) other than the relevant registrar.

• (2) The officer before whom the declaration is to be made shall—

• (a) enter in the declaration the particulars required to be registered concerning the still-birth, using an approved form for the purpose;

• (b) show or read the declaration to the informant and correct any error or omission, requiring the informant to initial any amendment if the declaration is prepared in manuscript, and then to sign the declaration;

• (c) attest the declaration himself; and

• (d) send the declaration and either the certificate in form 10 or the declaration in form 11 to the relevant registrar in accordance with section 11(1B)(b) of the Act.

• (3) Except in a case to which regulation 33 applies, where it appears to the relevant registrar that the particulars contained in the declaration are in any material respect not proper to be registered, he shall return the declaration to the officer before whom it was attested together with a note of the matters in which it appears to need amendment, and—

• (a) that officer shall then in the presence of the declarant amend any error by striking out any incorrect particulars and inserting the correct particulars;

• (b) any amendment so made shall be initialled by the declarant and the declaration shall be returned to the relevant registrar.

• (4) On receiving the declaration and either the certificate in form 10 or the declaration in form 11 the registrar shall, subject to paragraph (3), enter the particulars of the birth in the register in the following manner—

• (a) in spaces 1 and 3 to 13 of form 9, he shall enter the particulars as appearing in the corresponding spaces of the declaration, except that where any particulars have been corrected in pursuance of paragraph (3) he shall enter in the register only the particulars as corrected, omitting any incorrect particular which has been struck out and the initials of the declarant;

• (b) in space 2 of form 9, he shall enter the cause of death and nature of the evidence that the child was still-born—

• (i) if he has received a certificate in form 10, as they appear in that certificate; or

• (ii) if he has received a declaration in form 11, as they appear in the corresponding spaces of the declaration for the purposes of section 9(1) of the Act, except that where those particulars have been corrected in pursuance of paragraph (3) he shall enter in the register only the particulars as corrected, omitting any incorrect particular which has been struck out and the initials of the declarant.

• (c) in space 14 of form 9—

• (i) he shall enter the name of the declarant in the form in which he signed the declaration and shall add the words “by declaration dated….”, inserting the date on which the declaration was made and signed;

• (ii) if, pursuant to section 9(4) of the Act, a request made under paragraph (b) or (c) of section 10(1) , or paragraphs (b) or (c) of section 10(1B) of the Act was included in the declaration, he shall after the words required by head (i) make the same addition as, on completion of registration under regulation 10, would be required under (as the case may be) head (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (1)(b) or (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (1)(c) of that regulation;

• (iii) if, pursuant to section 9(4A) of the Act, a request made under section 10ZA of the Act was included in the declaration, he shall after the words required by head (i) make the same addition as, on completion of registration under regulation 10, would be required under paragraph 1(d) of regulation 10;

• (d) in space 15 of form 9 he shall enter the date on which the entry is made; and

• (e) in space 16 of form 9 he shall sign the entry, adding his official description.

Registration on coroner’s notification where no inquest is held

Registration on coroner’s certificate after inquest

Noting of previous entry after coroner’s certificate after inquest

Declaration and registration under section 23A of the Act

42A

• (1) The officer before whom a declaration for the purposes of section 23A of the Act (giving of information concerning a death to a person other than the registrar) may be made shall be any registrar other than the relevant registrar.

• (2) The officer before whom the declaration is to be made shall—

• (a) enter in the declaration the particulars required to be registered concerning the death, using an approved form for the purpose;

• (b) show or read the particulars entered on the form to the informant and correct any error or omission, where the declaration is being prepared in manuscript requiring the informant to initial any amendment and then to sign the declaration;

• (c) attest the declaration himself; and

• (d) send the declaration to the relevant registrar in accordance with section 23A(3) of the Act.

• (3) Where it appears to the relevant registrar that the particulars contained in the declaration are in any material respect not proper to be registered, he shall return the declaration to the officer before whom it was attested together with a note of the matters in which it appears to need amendment, and—

• (a) that officer shall then ... amend any error by striking out any incorrect particulars and inserting the correct particulars;

• (b) any amendment so made shall be initialled by the declarant and the declaration shall be returned to the relevant registrar.

• (4) On receiving the declaration the registrar shall, subject to paragraph (3), enter the particulars of the death in the register in the following manner—

• (a) in spaces 1 to 7 of form 13, he shall enter the particulars as appearing in the corresponding spaces of the declaration, except that where any particulars have been corrected in pursuance of paragraph (3) he shall enter in the register only the particulars as corrected, omitting any incorrect particular which has been struck out and the initials of the declarant;

• (b) in space 9 of form 13 he shall enter the cause of death as it appears in the confirmed attending practitioner’s certificate or in the medical examiner’s certificate given to the registrar in accordance with regulations under section 20 of the 2009 Act;

• (c) in space 8 of form 13 he shall enter the name of the declarant in the form in which he signed the declaration and shall add the words “by declaration dated ”, inserting the date on which the declaration was made and signed;

• (d) in space 10 of form 13 he shall enter the date on which the entry is made; and

• (e) in space 11 of form 13 he shall sign the entry, adding his official description.

Registration where inquest is not held

Noting of existing entry on coroner’s notification of cause of death

Registration after receipt of declaration and coroner’s notification of cause of death

44A

Where the registrar receives a notification as mentioned in regulation 43(1) in respect of a death in respect of which a declaration has been made for the purposes of section 23A of the Act, but that death has not yet been registered, he shall register that death in accordance with regulation 42A and shall enter in the margin of the entry the particulars required by regulation 44(a).

Registration after inquest

Noting of previous entry on registration after inquest

Registration after twelve months

Declaration by mother, father or other parent for registration of birth

Declaration by mother, father or other parent for the re-registration of a birth

Re-registration where mother, father or other parent attends

Entry of particulars on registration

Report to the Registrar General

Report to the Registrar General

33A

• (1) Where a relevant registrar is informed that a still-birth which occurred more than twelve months previously has not been registered, he shall make a report to the Registrar General stating, to the best of his knowledge and belief—

• (a) the particulars required to be registered concerning the birth;

• (b) the source of his information; and

• (c) the name, surname and address of any qualified information available to give information for the registration.

• (2) Where a report has been, or is required to be, made to the coroner in accordance with regulation 33, the relevant registrar shall also inform the Registrar General of this fact and, upon receiving a coroner’s certificate after inquest or being informed that the coroner does not intend to hold an inquest, notify the Registrar General accordingly.

• (3) On being satisfied that the Registrar General has issued his written authority to the relevant registrar for the registration of the still-birth, that registrar, on registering the birth, shall enter in space 15 the words “on the authority of the Registrar General”.

Registration where no reference to coroner

Declaration and registration of a still-birth under section 9 of the Act

Registration on coroner’s notification where no inquest is held

Registration on coroner’s certificate after inquest

Noting of previous entry after coroner’s certificate after inquest

Sending and providing notices, information or other documents

2A

Where any notice, information, declaration, certificate, return or other document is required to be given, sent, delivered, produced, supplied, transmitted or otherwise provided for any purpose of these Regulations, the requirement may be met by—

• (a) sending the document by post, or

• (b) providing the document, or a copy of it, in an approved electronic form.

Declarations and certificates in an approved electronic form

2B

• (1) If a declaration or certificate under these Regulations is prescribed to be made or issued in a form listed in paragraph (2), that declaration or certificate may also be made or issued in an approved electronic form.

• (2) The forms are—

• (a) form 2,

• (b) form 3,

• (c) form 4,

• (d) form 6A,

• (e) form 6B,

• (f) form 10,

• (g) form 11,

• (h) form 12,

• (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (j) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (k) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (l) form 17,

• (m) form 18.

Registration where no report to coroner

Registration where a coroner’s certificate is provided to the registrar on request by the registrar

43A

• (1) This regulation applies where a death has not already been registered and—

• (a) the coroner discontinues an investigation under section 4 of the 2009 Act;

• (b) the coroner authorises the disposal of the body; and

• (c) a qualified informant is unable or unwilling to provide and verify the particulars required to be registered in accordance with either regulation 42(2) to (7) or 42A(4).

• (2) The registrar may request the coroner to provide a certificate stating any particulars required to be registered in accordance with the provisions of this regulation, so far as they have been ascertained by the coroner at the date of the certificate.

• (3) On receipt of the coroner’s certificate the registrar shall register the death and the particulars in form 13, in accordance with regulation 45, except that—

• (a) in space 7.(a) the registrar shall enter the words “Certificate received from .. .. pursuant to section 23(4) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953.”, inserting the name and surname of the coroner in the place provided as stated in the certificate from the coroner;

• (b) in spaces 7.(b), 7.(c) the registrar shall enter no particulars and draw a line through those spaces;

• (c) in space 9 the registrar shall enter the cause of death precisely as stated in the certificate from the coroner, in accordance with regulation 43(2).

Noting of existing entry on coroner’s notification of cause of death

Registration after receipt of declaration and coroner’s notification of cause of death

Registration after inquest , or after an investigation by the coroner is suspended

Noting of previous entry on registration after inquest

Registration after twelve months

Correction of errors on notification by medical examiner

58A

• (1) This regulation applies—

• (a) to a death in relation to which the registrar has been given a confirmed attending practitioner’s certificate, or a medical examiner’s certificate, in accordance with regulations under section 20 of the 2009 Act; and

• (b) the registrar, or the superintendent registrar having the custody of the register where the death has been registered, receives notification from the medical examiner of any error of fact or substance relating to the cause of death pursuant to section 29(3A)(b) of the Act.

• (2) The registrar, or the superintendent registrar—

• (a) shall send a report to the Registrar General, enclosing a copy of the entry and of the medical examiner’s notification; and

• (b) shall correct the error by entering a marginal note in the following form—

In space .. .. corrected to .. .. on .. .. by me .. .. registrar [or superintendent registrar] on receipt of notification from the medical examiner” and shall enter the particulars of the correction and complete the note in the places provided.

Correction of error on coroner’s certificate

Correction of clerical errors in entries made before 1st April 1969

Copy of corrected or annotated entry to be sent to Registrar General

Application for short certificate of death

66A

• (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the particulars to be furnished on an application under section 33A(1) of the Act for a short certificate of the death of any person shall be—

• (a) the name and surname of the person;

• (b) the date of death; and

• (c) the place of death or the place where the death was registered.

• (2) Any particulars required under paragraph (1) may be omitted where, in the opinion of the person to whom an application is made, it is not reasonably practicable for the applicant to furnish those particulars.

• (3) No particulars shall be required if the application is made at the time of registering the death.

Form of short certificate of death

66B

The form of short certificate of death to be issued under section 33A of the Act—

• (a) by a superintendent registrar or registrar, shall be form 22A;

• (b) by the Registrar General, shall be form 22B.

Compilation of short certificate of death

66C

• (1) A short certificate of death under section 33A of the Act shall be compiled, from the records and registers in the custody of the Registrar General or from the registers in the custody of the superintendent registrar or registrar, in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

• (2) In the case of a certificate in form 22A the superintendent registrar or registrar shall complete the certificate in the places provided inserting the relevant particulars from the death entry.

• (3) In the case of a certificate in form 22B the certificate shall be completed by inserting in the places provided the relevant particulars from the records and registers in the custody of the Registrar General.

Applications for certificate of birth or death for certain purposes

Certificates of death for certain purposes