Who can register a stillbirth

A stillbirth is when a baby is born after week 24 of the pregnancy and does not breathe or show any other signs of life after birth.

A stillbirth can be registered by:

  • the mother
  • the father, if he was married to, or in a civil partnership with, the mother at the time of the stillbirth
  • a person present at the stillbirth

If the parents are not married, the father must be present during the registration call if he wishes his name to go in the register, as this can not be done later.

For full details of who can register a stillbirth, including what to do if neither parent can attend the register office, you can either: