Births

Registering a birth

We are responsible for providing a service for the public to carry out their legal duties to register all births occurring within the City of Westminster.

We hold records of all births that took place within the City of Westminster from 1837. We can supply certified copies of these records if you pay the statutory fee. A certified copy is not a photocopy and is the document that can be used for legal purposes.

We also provide advice and help on re-registering births and correcting the legal records which may have to be processed through the General Register Office.

Frequently asked questions

Please select the appropriate commonly asked questions from the list below to view the answer:

• Can I change my child's first names on the birth certificate?
• Can I change my child's surname on the birth certificate?
• Do I need to bring the baby with me to register its birth?
• Do I need to know the date of my marriage?
• How do I change my child's name?
• How do I get a copy of my birth certificate?
• How do I get the father's name in the register if we are not married?
• How do I get the father's name onto my baby's birth certificate?
• How do I obtain a copy of somebody else’s birth certificate?
• How long after the birth of my baby do I need to register it?
• How much does it cost to register a baby?
• What certificates will I be issued with?
• What do I need to bring to register a baby?
• What documents will I get from the registrar after I register my baby?
• What happens if a birth is not registered within 6 weeks?
• What if the parents don't have English as their first language?
• What information should I bring for the Registrar?
• What information will the Registrar ask for?
• What surname can the child be given?
• Where do I go to register a baby?
• Who can register a birth?
• Will the registrar need to know about our other children?
• Will I receive an NHS number for my baby at the time of the registration?