Please use our online system on the Somerset County Council website to book an appointment. If you are unable to use our online system, please phone us on 01823 282251.
How to register a birth
We offer appointments for babies born in North Somerset.
Babies born in the Bristol registration district to North Somerset residents can also be registered at the Weston and Clevedon offices, due to a reciprocal agreement we have with the Bristol Register Office.
If your baby was born elsewhere you can register the birth by declaration in North Somerset.
Who can register a birth
If the parents are married to each other at the time of the birth, either parent can complete the registration.
If the parents are not married to each other at the time of birth and the father’s details are to be shown on the child’s birth certificate, both parents should attend together.
If it is not possible for both parents to attend together, the law allows for one parent to complete the registration by bringing with them a ‘statutory declaration’ which has been signed by the other parent in front of a ‘Notary Public’ (solicitor or magistrate, for example).
If you need to register via statutory declaration, please contact us. We can advise you on the process and correct forms.
You can find more information and a form to download on the GOV.UK website.
What you need to bring
When you arrive for your appointment, the registrar will ask you for the following information:
- the child's full name and surname
- child's date and place of birth
- full name and surname for both parents
- place of birth for both parents
- parents’ occupation
You can use the following documents to confirm your details. However, these are not essential and you can go ahead without them:
- passport or birth certificate
- driving licence
- marriage or civil partnership certificate
- any name change documents
After you've registered
Once you've registered, you will be given the opportunity to purchase a full certificate. This is a detailed copy of the birth entry with parents names, occupation, and place of birth as well as the details for the baby.
Certificates are £12.50 each.
Please note there will be a non-refundable fee for any correction requested to the registration.
We cannot guarantee that the correction will be authorised.
The fee will be £83 – in some circumstances this fee will increase to £99 if the correction needs to be authorised by the General Register Office.
Therefore, it is very important that you check the document carefully at the registration appointment.
Child benefit claims
You will need to register your baby before being able to claim Child Benefit.
Information about Child Benefit and the claim form can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Babies born outside North Somerset
If your baby is born outside of North Somerset, you can register the birth ‘by declaration’ at any Register Office in England or Wales.
If you register by declaration you won’t receive a birth certificate immediately. You will need to contact the registering district to apply for a birth certificate.
You can book a registrar appointment by using our online booking system. Please note you will be redirected to Somerset County Council’s website to book.
registration service