Registering a stillbirth

Certificate of registration

A certificate of registration will be issued, free of charge, to the person who registers the stillbirth. This certificate is proof that the stillbirth has been registered. Any names given to the still-born child and entered in the register will be recorded on the certificate of registration.

Stillbirth certificate

After a stillbirth has been registered, one or more certificates can be bought after the registration has taken place. The mother and father can get certificates at any time afterwards, but the father's details must be on the register for him to be able to buy a certificate. The fee for a certificate is £12.50. 

Any application for a certificate from someone who is not the mother or father should be sent to the General Register Office, Certificate Production 1, PO Box 2, Southport, PL8 2JD, giving full details of why the certificate is needed.

Certificate for burial or cremation

The registrar will issue a certificate for the burial (in a burial ground) or cremation (in a crematorium) of the still-born child. The certificate is normally passed to the funeral director who is making the arrangements. A funeral cannot take place until this certificate is given to the burial authority or the crematorium. If there is a delay to the registration, it is possible for a certificate for the burial (in a burial ground) to be issued before registration as long as the stillbirth does not need to be reported to the coroner. A certificate for cremation cannot be issued before the registration.