For babies who die before 24 weeks gestation, there's no legal requirement to register the death. Registration is required by law for all babies who are born alive and who die shortly after birth at any gestation. Babies who are stillborn on or after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy showing no signs of life are included on a stillbirth register. 

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First steps

Registering the death of a baby in the UK is an important and necessary process, but an emotionally difficult one.  You should first obtain the medical certificate relevant to your situation:

  • If your baby was stillborn, the hospital will provide you with a Medical Certificate of Stillbirth (form MB6) after the birth.
  • If your baby was born alive but died shortly after birth, the hospital will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.

 

 

Registering a stillbirth
  • You need to register your baby's stillbirth within 42 days if you live in England or Wales. In Northern Ireland, you have a year to register the stillbirth and in Scotland, you have 21 days.
  • You need to contact the register office in the area where the baby was born to schedule an appointment. Sometimes your local registrar will come to the hospital.
  • For a stillbirth, a single stillbirth certificate is issued, rather than separate birth and death certificates.
  • You may wish to contact the registrar ahead of your appointment to ask for a time where you won’t have to wait with parents and their new babies.
  • The registrar should tell you what documents to bring.
  • The registrar will guide you through the process and complete the relevant forms based on the information provided.
  • There is no fee for registering a stillbirth.
  • The registrar will keep the Medical Certificate of Stillbirth.
  • The registrar will provide you with a Certificate of Registration of Stillbirth and a form to permit burial or cremation. You can then pass this onto the funeral director or hospital depending on which you are choosing.
  • Further information on registering a stillbirth is available on the UK Government website.

Registering a stillbirth

 

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Registering a neonatal death
  • If your baby was born alive and then died, separate birth and death certificates are issued.
  • You will first need to register your baby’s birth before registering their death. All births must be registered within 42 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 21 days in Scotland.
  • You will need to register your baby’s birth at the local register office where the baby was born.
  • Your baby’s death needs to be registered within five days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and eight days in Scotland.
  • You may wish to contact the registrar ahead of your appointments to ask for a time where you won’t have to wait with parents and their new babies.
  • When registering the death, you will need some form of ID such as a passport or driving licence.
  • You will need to bring with you the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
  • The registrar will guide you through the process and complete the relevant forms based on the information provided.
  • Once the death has been registered, you can order and pay for the Certificate of Death, which you will then receive in the post.
  • The registrar will also order an After Registration certificate, which will be posted to you.
  • The After Registration certificate is required for the burial or cremation of your baby. The funeral can only take place once this certificate has been given to the burial authority or the crematorium.
  • Further information on registering a death is available on the UK Government website.

Registering a death