Login / Register A TO Z SERVICES Home Births, deaths, marri... Births Register a birth Register a birth A claim for child benefit or universal credit may up to 31/10/2021 be made prior to the birth being registered. With effect from 01/11/2021 the birth must be registered prior to making these claims. No penalty will be incurred for births not registered within the statutory 42 day period. Book an appointment to register a birth As our service was affected by the recent Pandemic, there is a large backlog of Births to register for which we apologise. We aim to register births in date order and would ask for your patience, kindness and understanding. Using our online system is the quickest way to book an appointment. If appointments are not available please check our website again frequently. We are only releasing birth registration appointments 1-2 weeks ahead. If you live in Central Bedfordshire, you may wish to contact Central Bedfordshire Council’s Registration Service to complete a “declaration” of your baby's birth, which they will then post to us. Please apply for any certificates required with Bedford. Using our online system is the quickest way to book an appointment: If no appointments are available please check our website again frequently as whilst Covid-19 restrictions are in force we are releasing birth registration appointments only 1-2 weeks ahead so more appointments will be made available within a few days. Book your appointment to register a birth Appointments may take up 30 minutes. Please be on time for your appointment. If you are late we may not be able to see you and you will have to make another appointment. All Council buildings/premises in the Borough of Bedford require visiting members of the public to wear face coverings in line with Government guidance concerning mandatory face coverings in some enclosed public spaces, eg shops, supermarkets, public transport and hospitals (taking account of defined exceptions). This measure does not replace social distancing and other control measures which are still required and are in place in all buildings/settings where employees and customers come into contact. Registrar address Your confirmation email will include: date, time and location of your appointment, and what you need to bring. Venue: The Old Town Hall, St. Paul’s Square, Bedford, MK40 1SJ The entrance to the Register Office is via the black wooden door under the statue of William Harpur on St. Paul’s Square. Important information: During the current pandemic, appointments are offered on the basis that the parent(s) attend without baby and/or other children. Please do not arrive early, but do be prompt for your appointment. If you are late you will not be seen and will need to telephone to make another appointment or re-book online. Your appointment may take up to 30 minutes. There will be an interval between appointments for hygiene measures to be completed. Please be aware that your appointment may be cancelled at short notice, due to localised lock-downs or staff shortages, possibly on the day of the appointment. Please note there are no toilet facilities available at The Old Town Hall. If you have no one to look after the baby and/or other children due to current Public Health guidance, you will need to book an appointment for a later date. If you start to display coronavirus symptoms, or are told by the Test and Trace service to self-isolate, you must call us and postpone your appointment. Email: civil.registration@bedford.gov.uk Who can register a birth If the biological parents were married or formed a civil partnership with each other before the baby was born, either parent may register the birth on their own and we ask that only one parent attends. If the biological parents were not married or formed a civil partnership with each other before the baby was born, both parents will need to attend the appointment for the second parent’ details to be included in the registration. If either biological parent cannot attend please email us at civil.registration@bedford.gov.uk For same sex couples it may be possible to have both names appear on the certificate. If none of the above applies please email us at civil.registration@bedford.gov.uk before booking an appointment. During the pandemic period no penalty will be incurred for births not registered within the statutory 42 days (6 weeks) Baby should not be brought to the appointment whilst covid-19 restrictions are in force. What the registrar will ask you The date, place and time of the birth (the time will only be included if the baby is one of a multiple birth - twins, triplets etc). Whether the baby is a boy or a girl. The full forenames and surname by which the baby is to be brought up. The full forenames and surname, and any other names currently or formerly used by the father or parent (where the father or parents' details are to be entered in the register). Date and place of birth of the father or parent. Occupation of the father or parent at the time of the baby’s birth (or previous occupation if not currently employed). The full forenames and surname, and any other names currently or formerly used by the mother, including maiden surname. Date and place of birth of the mother. Occupation or previous occupation of the mother. Date of marriage or civil partnership if applicable. The address or addresses of the baby's parents. The number of previous children by the mother. It will be helpful if you can bring documents with you to confirm the above information, although this is not essential Details of our privacy policy (Word). Register a stillbirth If you need to register a stillbirth please do not book online. Please telephone 01234 276008 and ask to speak to a Registrar who can talk you through the process. You can also email us on civil.registration@bedford.gov.uk Certificates Other types of certificates Adoption certificates Gender recognition certificates Making changes to the record or certificate You can correct some information on a birth certificate: Correct a birth registration Adding a father's name to a birth certificate (or re-registering following marriage) Site details Homepage Contact us Digital help Privacy and cookies Legal disclaimer Quick links Councillor information Consultations Pay, Report, Request it Accessibility statement Connect Stay connected Provide feedback © 2021 Bedford Borough Council