Neighbourhood Services

LIBRARY, REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION SERVICES

Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages

BIRTHS

In this section you will find answers to all the questions you may ask when registering a birth including where and when births can be registered, who can register and when.

Q - Where can a birth be registered? 
A - If a baby was born in Scotland, the birth may be registered at any of the Registration Offices in East Ayrshire.

Q - Do I need an appointment? 
A - Yes, all Registration Offices in East Ayrshire operate an appointment system. Click here to book an appointment online

Q - Who is allowed to register the birth?
A - The mother or the father if the parents are married to each other. If the parents are not married, the mother must be present. If the father is acknowledging paternity and he wishes his name to be put on the child's birth certificate, he will also have to attend the registration.

Q - How soon do I need to register? 
A - You must register within 21 days, although the Registrar may allow a little longer in certain circumstances. Whatever the reason, every effort must be made to have the birth registered within 3 months. The parents must however keep in touch with the Registrar during this period.

Q - What documents do I need? 
A - If you are married to the baby's father, you need to bring your Marriage Certificate. If your baby was born in hospital, bring the card the hospital gives you. This will have on it the baby's date and time of birth.

Q - How much does it cost? 
A - Registration is free and an abbreviated extract of the birth is also given free at the time of registration. A full certificate given at the time of registration or in the current year will cost £8.50, any certificate not in the current year will cost £13.50.

Q - My child was born in England but I live in Scotland? Can I register in my own registration district? 
A - No. If the baby was born in England the baby's birth would have to be registered in England.

Q - I am an unmarried mother. What surname can I give my baby? 
A - The birth may be registered in your surname, or the birth may be registered in father's surname without his consent provided that his name and other details do not appear on the birth entry. The birth may be registered in the mother's surname OR the father's surname with the father's full name and surname appearing in the birth entry with the following conditions:

Surname - conditions to enable father's full name to be recorded on birth entry
1) if the father attends the registration office with you  
or
2) if he completes a statutory declaration before a Justice of the Peace. 
or
3) If the mother gives to the Registrar a decree of paternity granted by a court, naming that person as the father of the child. 

Q - What is a statutory declaration and how can I get one? 
A - There are special forms available from the Registrar. You must have it signed and witnessed by a Justice of the Peace before it is accepted by the Registrar.