Genealogy Chat

I've found references to birth registration by declaration in a number of threads recently and a number of people have been puzzled by it. So I thought it might be an idea to post an explanation. It's quite simple really.

1. It is a legal requirement to register a birth within 42 days
2. Registration can only be done in person
3. The birth must be registered in the registration district where the birth occurred.
4. Only certain people may act as informant.

However it is sometimes difficult for a qualified informant to meet both 2 and 3. In that case he/she may go to any register office and register "by declaration". This simply means that the registrar takes down the details and forwards them to the correct district office. That office then issues the certificate and sends them by post to the informant.

In earlier times when many women returned to their parents' home for the birth of their first child, registration would often be made by declaration after mother and child returned home. And in the present day when a maternity hospital may serve a huge area the informant may not even know what the correct district is.

Hope people find this helpful.

A

I should have added that this is the situation in England & Wales. In Scotland, since 2007, a birth can be registered at any register office. Previously it had to be done, as in E&W, at the correct district office - I don't know if there was any facility for registering by declaration.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Yes I should have mentioned the shorter time limit in Scotland.

As far as registering in England & Wales is concerned I've had a look at the GRO website (should have thought of that one before) and these notes from it may be helpful:

If parents are married at time of birth or conception, either the mother or father can register the birth on their own.

If they aren’t married, to ensure both parents’ details are included on the birth certificate, there are several options:

both parents can go and sign the birth register together
if one parent cannot go to the register office, they will need to complete the statutory declaration form - the parent registering the birth should give the completed form to the registrar
where there is a parental responsibility agreement in force or either parent has an appropriate court order, this can be presented at the time of registration
If the father's details are not included in the birth register, it may be possible to re-register at a later date.


If the mother or the father cannot attend, the following people can register the birth:

occupier of the house or hospital where the child was born
someone who was present at the birth
someone who is responsible for the child

Hope that's useful, and thanks again for your interest

A

Joan

Thank you for the kind remarks.

I'm afraid the short answer to your question is, as they say on Mastermind, "pass". But I have a certificate for my aunt's stepdaughter which states "as per declaration dated 9th October 1902" suggesting that the declaration may have been filed somewhere. If so, the most likely place would be the register office issuing the certificate - and they might even send a copy to the GRO with the copy register.

Maybe someone out there knows the answer.

A