Births
Registering a birth
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
We realise this will be a busy time for you as a new parent but it is important to make time to register your baby so that you can access services such as applying for child benefit, to obtain a birth certificate, which you will need for many purposes, and because it is a legal requirement in England and Wales to register your baby’s birth within 42 days.
You will need to make an appointment to register the birth in the district where the birth occurred. Babies born at Withybush General Hospital should be registered with us. However, if the birth took place at home, please check the location is within the Pembrokeshire Registration District (this will be the case if you pay your council tax to Pembrokeshire County Council).
What if I live in Pembrokeshire but my baby was born elsewhere?
If your baby was born in another district (e.g. Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen) ideally you should make an appointment at the Register Office for that district. However, it is also possible to make a ‘declaration’ at our office. This means that while you provide the details for the registration to our registrar, these details will then be used to register your baby’s birth by the district where your baby was born. The registration is usually completed within two weeks and you will then be able to contact them to order birth certificates which will be posted to you. Declaration appointments are available at our office in Haverfordwest every Friday.
If your baby was born in Pembrokeshire but you wish to attend another office to make a declaration, please contact that office for further details.
To make an appointment online to register your baby, please read the following information then click on the link at the end. Please note: We provide pre-booked appointments only, we do not offer walk-in appointments.
Who can register?
If you were married to each other or in a civil partnership when your child was born (or at the time of conception), either of you (or both) can attend the Register Office to register the birth and record both parents’ details.
If you were not married or in a civil partnership when your child was born (or at the time of conception), and you both wish to be recorded in the birth entry, in most cases you will both need to attend an appointment as joint informants to sign the legal register. If this is not possible, please contact us for advice.
A mother who is unmarried or not in a civil partnership may attend an appointment on her own to register the child’s birth and record only her information in the register. The natural father’s details may be added at a later date by re-registration and there is no time limit for when this can be done.
In exceptional circumstances where neither parent is able to register a birth please contact us for information and advice.
If you wish to register a birth in accordance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, or have any questions about same sex birth registrations, please contact our office.
What happens during the appointment?
When you attend your appointment, the registrar will record your and your child’s details. It usually takes no more than 30 minutes to complete the process, and if you are able to give the details in Welsh then you can chose to have a bilingual registration.
You will need to provide the following details at your appointment:
Baby
- the date and place of the baby's birth
- whether the baby is a boy or a girl
- the forename(s) and surname you have chosen for the baby
- if a multiple birth e.g. twins, you will be asked the time of each baby's birth
Mother
- forename and surname, and any forenames or surnames which may have been used before marriage
- date and place of birth
- her address
- occupation at the time of the baby's birth or, if not employed, her last occupation
- date of marriage if applicable
- the number of previous children by the present and/or any former partner(s)
Father/Second parent (where these details are to be entered into the register)
- forename and surname
- date and place of birth
- occupation at the time of the baby's birth or, if not employed, the last occupation
- their address
Once the information has been added to the register, you will be asked to sign the legal record which will be held in the birth register. You must check the details in the entry very carefully before you sign. Should you identify a mistake in the details after signing this will usually require a formal correction for which a statutory fee of up to £99 could apply.
What documents/information will I need to bring?
You should bring a form of identification and proof of address with you. Our preferred documents are:
- ID - passport or driving licence
- Proof of address – utility bill, bank statement or driving licence.
If you are married, please bring your marriage certificate.
If you are unable to provide these documents you should still go ahead and make an appointment to register.
You do not need to bring the child being registered to the appointment.
How much will it cost?
There is no fee to register a birth.
What documents will I receive?
If your baby was born in Pembrokeshire you can purchase either a short certificate (which displays only your baby’s name, date of birth and district of birth) or a standard (full) certificate which includes parents’ details. Standard certificates are required for most purposes such as applying for a passport and opening a bank account. Certificates can be paid for in advance when booking your appointment or on the day and cost £12.50 each.
Payment can be made by card, cash, cheque or postal order made payable to Pembrokeshire County Council.
If your baby was born outside of Pembrokeshire but you attend our office to make a declaration, you will need to contact the Register Office for that district to purchase certificates. Your registrar will be able to provide you with a contact details.
Further copies of certificates can be requested at any time after registration and can be ordered online.
Book an appointment to register a birth (opens in a new tab)
Contact us:
Pembrokeshire Registration Service
Pembrokeshire Register Office
Pembrokeshire Archives
Prendergast
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 2PE
Tel 01437 775176
Email: registrar@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Opening hours - Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm