The birth must be registered within 42 days of the birth of your child.

The birth should be registered in any of the offices within the district where the birth took place. If this is not possible, you may go to any Register Office in England and Wales to give information for the registration, but the birth will not be registered there. This information will be sent to the office where the birth took place and once they have registered the birth a free short birth certificate will be forwarded to you.   If you wish to purchase a full birth certificate at your appointment, you will need to bring a cheque/postal order so that this can be forwarded to the relevant office.

If the parents were married to each other at the time of the birth, either the mother or father can register the baby. If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the birth the father's details can only be entered in the register in the following circumstances

• Where the mother and father attend together before the registrar to register the birth

• Where the father is unable to attend with the mother, it is possible for him to make a legal declaration in front of a solicitor confirming that he is the father (copies of this form can be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales), which the mother should give to the registrar.

• Were the mother is unable to attend the office with the father, it is possible for her to make a legal declaration, confirming the name of the father (copies of this form can be obtained from any registrar in England or Wales), which the father should give to the registrar.

• Where either parent has obtained a relevant court order this should be given to the registrar who will advise you further. - However, please remember that you must still register, your baby within 42 days.

There is nothing you need to bring to the appointment.  However, the Registrar will ask you for the following information:

• Date and place of birth
• Full name of the child
• Full names of the child's parents
• Mothers maiden name (if applicable)
• Address of child's parents
• Occupation of child's parents
• Child's parents dates and places of birth and date of marriage (if applicable)

The registration will cost nothing and you will receive a free birth certificate which shows:

• The baby's name
• date of birth
• whether your baby is a boy or girl
• district of birth

If you would like a certificate which shows all the details recorded in the register, you can buy, one. The Registrar will advise you of the fees involved and this can be issued at the Registration at which time, you are also given the option to buy an extra short certificate. You can buy certificates at a later date but they will cost more - again, the Registrar will advise you of the fees.

A stillbirth must be registered in any of the offices within the district where the event took place normally within 42 days.

For further information contact the Superintendent Registrar on 0300 300 8089 or email: life.events@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

Re-registration of a birth can only occur in the following circumstances:

• To add the father's details if he wasn't present at the registration

• If parents marry each other after the birth of a child

Bedford Office, Pilgrim Centre, 20 Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7PZ  

Monday-Friday  9am -4.30pm

Ampthill Office, The Court House, Woburn Street, Ampthill, MK45 2HX

Monday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 9.30am -3pm
Friday 9.30am-4pm

Closed Tuesdays & Thursdays

Biggleswade Office, The Limes 142 London Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8EL

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday & Thursday 9am - 2pm
Friday 9am - 12 noon

Closed Wednesday

Dunstable Office, Grove House, 76 High Street North, Dunstable LU6 1NF

Monday 10.30am - 2pm
Tuesday & Thursday 10.30am - 4pm
Friday 10.30am - 2pm

Closed Wednesday

Leighton Buzzard Office, Bossard House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DA

Monday & Wednesday 11.30am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 1pm

Closed Tuesday & Thursday