Before registering
If you are a Lincolnshire resident or your baby was born in Lincolnshire, you must book an appointment to register the birth, which can be at any registration office in Lincolnshire.
Who can register a birth
- Parents who are married or in a registered civil partnership with each other at the time of the birth - the mother, father, or second parent can register the birth.
- Parents not in a marriage or a registered civil partnership together - the father or second parent must attend the appointment with the mother for their details to be included on the registration. No father or second parent's details will be recorded if the mother attends alone.
- Two female parents not in a marriage or registered civil partnership together must attend the appointment and meet the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act requirements if the second female details are to be included in the registration. No second female parent details will be recorded if the mother attends alone.
Information you need when registering a birth
- Place and date of the birth
- Forenames and surname you have chosen for the child
- Sex of the child
- Parents' names, surnames and addresses (including any former names)
- Places and dates of parents' birth
- Date of parents' marriage or civil partnership (if applicable)
- Parents' occupations
- Mother's maiden surname (if applicable).
What you should take
Please bring your 'Red Book' or any birth paperwork from the hospital or midwife.
It would also be helpful to bring the following:
- Your passport or birth certificate
- Proof of your current address
- Proof of any former name or names (for example, change of name deed or marriage/civil partnership certificate)
- Birth certificate of any previous children
- Your marriage or civil partnership certificate, where applicable.
Note that you are not legally required to produce these documents, but if you do, they can help to ensure your child's birth is correctly registered.
Please bring someone who can translate if you need help speaking or understanding English.
You are not required to bring your baby to the appointment.
Book an appointment
If your child was born in Lincolnshire you can register the birth at any of our registration offices.
- It is free to register a birth.
- A full birth certificate will be required during the child's life for many purposes, including applying for a passport and child benefits.
- Birth certificates can be purchased in advance, online at the point of booking. They can also be purchased during the appointment or online after the appointment.
- Certificates are £11 each.
Amend or cancel your appointment
After registering
Child benefit
You can claim Child Benefits as soon as you've registered your child's birth. Child Benefits can be backdated for up to three months. Information about Child benefits can be found on GOV.UK, including the Child benefit claim form CH2.
For your first child, this must be printed out, filled in, and sent to the Child benefit office. If you don't have access to a printer, you can call 0300 200 3100, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will send you a form in the post.
The form also contains information for the small minority of families who may be eligible for the High-Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
If you already have a Child benefit claim, you can add children by calling HMRC.
Registering your child with a doctor
New parents can register their baby with a doctor's practice without a birth certificate.
Welcoming a new child to a family can sometimes put stress on relationships. We have several resources and online sessions that can help you. information is also provided on our Childcare and family support pages.
Applying for a correction to your existing birth registration
If you want to make a correction or change to an existing registration, you will need to apply online.