Register a stillbirth

Register a stillbirth

Our registration staff are here to help and guide you to register a stillbirth during this difficult time.

When to register a stillbirth

The law requires you to register a stillbirth within 42 days of the birth. If more than 42 days have passed, please contact us for advice.

Where do I register a stillbirth?

A stillbirth should be registered in the district where it took place. If the stillbirth occurred outside of Westminster, please contact the local registration service to arrange an appointment with them directly. Find a register office here.

How to register a stillbirth

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

To register a stillbirth please telephone 020 7641 7500 to make an appointment. Alternatively, you may wish to email your contact details to [email protected] and a registrar will contact you directly to arrange an appointment. Appointments are in person at The Westminster Registration Service.

Attending the appointment

The natural parents of the stillborn child should ideally register the stillbirth. We would encourage you to bring a friend or relative for support if you wish.

During the appointment, the registrar will ask and record details of the stillborn child and details of the parents including full names, occupations, place and date of birth and the parents’ usual address.

Towards the end of the appointment the registrar will provide a certificate for the burial or cremation along with a certificate of the registration of the stillbirth.

The full version of the stillbirth certificate can be purchased at the time of the registration. The statutory fee for this certificate is £12.50.

Bereavement services

For information, guidance and support you can contact the following organisations:

• Sands
• Tommy's
• Child Bereavement UK

The Baby Loss Certificate Service

The Baby Loss Certificate Service has been launched to support parents who have experienced a loss of pregnancy before 24 weeks. The voluntary scheme is designed to formally recognise the devastating loss of a baby during pregnancy. Parents who have experienced the devastation of losing a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy can apply for a certificate to have their grief recognised.

The certificate is an important acknowledgement of a life lost, but it is not a legal document.  

Either parent can apply for a Baby Loss Certificate if they have experienced a loss under 24 weeks since 1 September 2018, are at least 16 years of age, currently live in England, and were living in England at the time of the loss. 

The service is run by the NHS Business Services Authority which is inked to the Department of Health and Social Care.

For further information or to request a certificate please visit GOV.UK.

Please note that if your pregnancy ends from 24 weeks onwards, you will need to register a stillbirth instead.