Registering a Birth or Death

REGISTERING A BIRTH

A baby born in Birmingham Registration District should usually be registered with Birmingham Register Office.

This can be done in person by the parent at:
Birmingham Register Office, Holliday Wharf, Holliday Street, Birmingham, B1 1TJ

or by prior appointment only at: the Sutton Coldfield Outstation, The Council House, King Edward Square, Sutton Coldfield. You will need to make an appointment to register a birth at our Sutton Coldfield Outstation

See our Opening Hours for details

A parent can also register the birth by making a declaration in person at any convenient Register Office, however a birth certificate will not be issued until the details have been forwarded to Birmingham Register Office.

If the parents are married to each other only one parent needs to attend.
If the parents are not married to each other and they wish the fathers details to be included in the register they must usually attend together.
When attending the Register Office parents should bring the hospital discharge papers with them.

When the birth is registered the parents will receive a short birth certificate and a doctors form to obtain a medical card.

Full birth certificates showing parents details cost £3.50 at the time of registration.

You do not need to make an appointment for our Birmingham Office, just call in between 9am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Our Sutton Coldfield Outstation offers a limited service. You will need to make an appointment -
See our Opening Hours for details

REGISTERING A DEATH

When someone dies you need to register his or her death with the registrar in the area where the death took place within five days.

A death occurring within Birmingham Registration District should usually be registered with Birmingham Register Office.

This can be done in person at:
Birmingham Register Office, Holliday Wharf, Holliday Street, Birmingham B1 1TJ

or by prior appointment only at:
Sutton Coldfield Outstation, The Council House, King Edward Square, Sutton Coldfield.

See our Opening Hours for details

You will need to take the medical certificate of cause of death with you. You will get this from the doctor or the bereavement officer at the hospital. Alternatively, if there has been a post mortem, the coroner may issue the document you require to register the death - the doctor or hospital will assist in these circumstances.

You will need the following information in order to be able to register the death:

The date and place of death
The full name of the person who has died (this should be the name they used at the time of their death)
Any other names they may have been known as. For example, they may have changed their name by deed poll.
Their date and place of birth (town and county if possible)
Their job and whether they were retired
Their usual address

If the person who died was a married person or in a civil partnership or widowed, you will also need to know:

In the case of a woman, her surname before she first married or registered her civil partnership

The full name and occupation of the deceased's wife, husband or civil partner.

You will need to give your full name and address. You will also be asked to give your relationship to the person who died, for example, son, daughter, widow, widower, niece, nephew, surviving civil partner, or the person making the funeral arrangements.

You will also be asked to answer some extra questions.
This information is used for government statistics and is kept confidential

Was the person who died married or in a civil partnership?
Is their husband or wife or civil partner still living? If they are, what is their date of birth?
How long did they stay in hospital or other establishment, for example a hospice?
Was the person under 75? If they were, what industry did they work in?
Did they get a pension paid from government funds? This includes the civil service, teachers, armed forces and war widows. This does not include the state pension or pension credits. You will be asked this so that the registrar can let the relevant department know the person has died.
Have you found a medical card showing the person NHS number?

There is no charge for registering a birth or death.

Once you have completed the registration, the registrar will give you:
green form to give to the funeral director; and
a white form (called a BD8) that you can send off with any benefit or pension details to the Department for Work and Pensions.

You will also be able to obtain death certificates for £3.50 each at the time of registration. You will need these certificates when you are sorting out the finances of the person who has died. For example, banks and insurance companies will probably need a death certificate to allow access to accounts and funds.

You do not need to make an appointment for our Birmingham Office, just call in between 9am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday.
Our Sutton Coldfield Outstation offers a limited service. You will need to make an appointment.
See our Opening Hours for details

If you would like to speak to a Registrar or if any of the following apply, please telephone us on 0121 675 1000 and choose option 7 from the main menu:

If the death has been reported to the coroner
If a relative cannot attend to register the death
You would like to register by declaration at a different Register Office
If you need further advice about the procedure for registering a birth or death

Telephone: 0121 675 1000
Fax: 0121 675 1050
E-mail:register.office@birmingham.gov.uk

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