Registering a stillbirth

How a stillbirth is defined

A stillborn child is legally defined as a child born after the 24th week of pregnancy who did not at any time after being born breathe or show any other signs of life (a child who breathed or showed other signs of life is considered live-born for registration purposes, irrespective of the number of weeks duration of the pregnancy).

If your pregnancy ends before the 24th week, you can get a certificate in memory of your baby.  It’s optional and free to get a certificate.  The certificate is not a legal document and you cannot use it to claim benefits. The certificate will not be added to your GP record.

Issuing a medical certificate of stillbirth

When a child is stillborn, the doctor or midwife issues a medical certificate of stillbirth, which is sent electronically to the Registration Service for the district in which the stillbirth took place.

Every stillbirth in England or Wales must be registered in the district in which it takes place.

How to book an appointment to register a stillbirth

To book an appointment to register a stillbirth, please call 0345 241 2489 and ask to be transferred to the Registration Hub or use the online service below.

Ordering a certificate of stillbirth

Certificates of the stillbirth can be ordered and paid for at the time of making the appointment.

Certificates will be posted to the family by the registrar for the district where the stillbirth took place.

The registrar will also send the document to allow the burial or cremation to take place to the funeral director after the appointment.

Who can register a stillbirth?

Parents married or in a civil partnership with each other

If the parents of the child were married to, or were in a civil partnership with each other at the time of the stillbirth (or conception), either the mother or the father may register.

Parents not married or in a civil partnership with each other

If the parents were not married to each other or in a civil partnership at the time of the stillbirth (or conception), information about the father may be entered in the register if both parents attend the telephone registration appointment.

If information about the father is not recorded, it may be possible for the stillbirth to be re-registered to include his details at a later date.

Although the parents register the majority of stillbirths, sometimes neither the mother nor the father can do this. In these circumstances, 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 stillborn
• A person who was present at the stillbirth
• A person who is responsible for the stillborn child
• The person who found the stillborn child (where the date and place of the stillbirth are unknown)

Information you will need

About the child

• Date and place of stillbirth
• The forename(s) and surname, if the parents wish to name the stillborn child
• Sex of the child

Father (where this information is to be entered in the register)

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

About the mother

• Forename(s) and surname
• Maiden surname if the mother is, or has been, married
• Date and place of birth
• Occupation at the time of the stillbirth or, if not employed at that time, the last occupation
• Usual address at the date of the stillbirth
• Date of marriage, if married to the stillborn child's father at the time of the stillbirth
• Number of previous children by the present husband/partner and by any former husband/partner

The person registering the stillbirth should check the information very carefully before signing the register.

Certificates that will be issued

Certificate of registration

The person who registers the stillbirth will receive a certificate of registration, free of charge. This certificate provides proof that the stillbirth has been registered. Any names given to the stillborn child and entered in the register will be recorded on the certificate of registration.

Stillbirth certificate

After a stillbirth has been registered, one or more certificates may be issued at the time of registration or at any time afterwards by the mother or the father. (The father's details would need to be recorded in the register entry for him to be able to obtain a certificate). Any application for a certificate from someone who is not the mother or father should be sent to the address below, giving full details of the purpose for which the certificate is required:

General Register Office
PO Box 2
Southport PR8 2JD

Certificate for burial or cremation

The registrar will issue a certificate for the burial (in a burial ground) or cremation (in a crematorium) of the stillborn child. The certificate is normally sent to the funeral director making the arrangements.

A funeral cannot take place until this certificate is given to the burial authority or the crematorium.

If there is a delay to the registration, it is possible for a certificate for the burial (in a burial ground) to be issued before registration provided the stillbirth does not need to be reported to the coroner. A certificate for cremation cannot be issued before the registration.