Registration of Births

The birth of every child born in the Island must be registered with the registrar of the parish in which the birth took place within a period of 21 days from the birth.

If the birth is not registered within the 21 day period, but provided that fewer than six months have elapsed since the birth, the birth must be registered in the presence of the Superintendent Registrar as well as the parish registrar, and the reason for the delay in registering the birth must be provided to the Superintendent Registrar.

After six months, registration can only be effected by an Order of the Royal Court.

Stillbirths must be registered in a similar manner as for live births.

The actual registration of the birth is cost free, but a certified extract from the Register (a birth certificate) may be obtained from the registrar of the parish in which the birth took place on payment of a fee of £10.00 for a full birth certificate, and £5.00 for a shortened form birth certificate.

Although the parish registrar is charged to make enquiries in respect of births within his/her parish, the law makes it the responsibility of parents, or failing them, those present at the birth, or in whose charge the child may have been placed, to register the birth within the time detailed above.