Registering a stillbirth gives bereaved parents the opportunity to have their child officially acknowledged.
A stillborn child is a child born after the 24th week of pregnancy who did not breathe or show any signs of life.
When a child is stillborn the midwife or doctor will issue a medical certificate of stillbirth which will be used to register the birth.
A stillbirth needs to be registered in the district where it occurred. If you do not live in Essex but the stillbirth happened in Essex then you can make the registration at any other registration office in England and Wales; the necessary information will be forwarded to the appropriate district.
Who can register a stillbirth
If the child's parents were married to each other at the time of the birth then either one can register. However, in the case of an unmarried couple, if the father’s details are to be recorded, both need to attend. If the parents are unable to attend others may register the stillbirth and our staff can explain the options to you.
The registrar will give you:
- a certificate of registration. The certificate includes any names that were given to the child, the date of the stillbirth and the registration district in which the stillbirth occurred
- a stillbirth certificate which is an exact copy of the entry in the register
- a green form to be given to the funeral director.
To make an appointment to register a stillbirth you will need to contact your local
registration office.
This service is free of charge.
Additional information