Essex.gov.uk
Due to current problems with our national RON (Registration Online) system, appointments are taking longer than usual. This is affecting our appointment capacity and there may be a delay in the next available appointment at certain locations. Please consider an alternative location where possible.
Our offices, including those in libraries, are open as normal for birth registrations and notices of marriage or civil partnership appointments.
You can arrange telephone appointments for death and stillbirth registrations using our online booking system. Availability is updated continuously on our online system, please continue to check this.
Please see individual notices on our pages for more information.
Register a stillbirth
When to register a stillbirth
If your baby was born after the 24th week of pregnancy but did not breathe or show any signs of life, you will need to register a stillbirth.
This gives parents an opportunity to have their child officially acknowledged and have their name recorded.
This has to happen before you’re able to have a burial or cremation for your baby.
If your baby was born before 24 weeks and showed no signs of life, this is legally classed as a miscarriage, and you do not need to register it.
If your baby showed signs of life after birth and then died you will need to register this as a birth and a death within five days.
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