Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965

Part II S Registration of Births

13 Particulars of births to be registered. S

[F1 (1) The prescribed particulars of the birth of every child born in Scotland shall be registered in accordance with this Part of this Act and for that purpose each district registrar for each registration district shall keep—

(a) a register of births, and

(b) a register of still-births.]

(4) Where a child is born (whether within or out of Scotland) in a ship, aircraft or land vehicle in the course of a journey, and that child is brought by such ship, aircraft or land vehicle to any place in Scotland, the birth shall, unless the Registrar General otherwise directs, be deemed for the purposes of this section to have occurred at that place.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 13(1) substituted for s. 13(1)-(3) (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(2), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

14 Duty to give information of particulars of birth. S

(1) Subject to the subsequent provisions of this Part of this Act, in the case of every birth it shall be the duty of—

(a) the [F2 child’s father or mother (whether or not they have attained the age of sixteen years)], or

(b) in the case of the death or inability of the father and mother, each other person who under the next following subsection is qualified to give information concerning the birth,

within twenty-one days from the date of the birth, to [F3 give to the district registrar for a registration district information of the prescribed particulars concerning the birth]:

Provided that the giving of that information F4 ... by the father or the mother or by any one of those persons shall constitute a discharge of any duty imposed by this subsection on any other person.

[F5 (1A) For the purposes of subsection (1) above, a person shall give information of the prescribed particulars concerning a birth to the district registrar for a registration district by—

(a) attending personally at the registration office for that district and—

(i) giving to the registrar information of the particulars required to be registered concerning the birth, and

(ii) attesting, in the prescribed manner, the prescribed form (in this Part, the “birth registration form”) concerning the birth in the presence of the registrar, or

(b) submitting to the registrar by a prescribed means a birth registration form concerning the birth which has been completed by the person and attested by him in the prescribed manner.]

(2) The following persons, in addition to the father and mother, shall be qualified to give information concerning the birth of a child, that is to say—

(a) any relative of either parent of the child, being a relative who has knowledge of the birth;

(b) the occupier of the premises in which the child was, to the knowledge of that occupier, born;

(c) any person present at the birth;

(d) any person having charge of the child.

(3) Nothing in this F6 ... section shall authorise the registration of the particulars of any birth in two or more registers, or more than once in any one register.

(4) If it appears to the Registrar General that the particulars of the birth of any child have been registered in two or more registers, or more than once in any one register, he may give directions for the cancellation of all those registrations except such one of them as may be specified in the directions.

[F7 (5) In this section, any reference to the father or parent of the child shall not include a reference to a father who is not married to the mother and has not been married to her since the child’s conception.]

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 14(1)(a) substituted (1.11.1995) by 1995 c. 36, s. 99(1); S.I. 1995/2787, art. 3, Sch.

F3 Words in s. 14(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(3)(a)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F4 Words in s. 14(1) repealed (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(3)(a)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F5 S. 14(1A) inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(3)(b), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F6 Words in s. 14(3) repealed (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(3)(c), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F7 S. 14(5) added by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 14(1) modified (1.11.1995) by 1995 c. 36, s. 99(2); S.I. 1995/2787, art. 3, Sch.

15 Duty to give information concerning finding of infant children. S

(1) Where any living infant child is found exposed and the finding has been reported to the local authority in whose area the child was found, it shall be the duty of the [F8 chief social work officer] of the local authority, or such other person as may be appointed for the purpose by the local authority, to give to the [F9 district registrar for the registration district in which the child was found], within two months from the date on which the child was found, information as to the finding of the child and such evidence as may be in the local authority’s possession as to the [F10 prescribed particulars] concerning the birth, and to [F11 attest, in the prescribed manner, the birth registration form concerning the birth] in the presence of the said registrar.

(2) If there is produced to the said registrar a certificate [F12 attested in the prescribed manner] by a registered medical practitioner stating that in the opinion of the medical practitioner a specified date is likely to have been the approximate date of the birth of the child, that date may be entered in the [F13 birth registration form concerning the birth] as the date of birth of the child.

(3) The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to the finding of the body of a dead infant child as they apply to the finding of a living infant child, with the substitution for any reference to the [F8 chief social work officer] of or other person appointed by the local authority of a reference to any procurator-fiscal to whom the finding has been reported.

F14 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in s. 15(1)(3) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 51(4)(a) (with s. 7(2)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(a), Sch. 1

F9 Words in s. 15(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(4)(a)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F10 Words in s. 15(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(4)(a)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F11 Words in s. 15(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(4)(a)(iii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F12 Words in s. 15(2) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(4)(b)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F13 Words in s. 15(2) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(4)(b)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F14 S. 15(4) repealed (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, ss. 51(4)(b), 180(2), Sch. 14 (with s. 7(2)); S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(a)(d), Sch. 1, 2

16 Registrar’s power to require information concerning birth to be given. S

(1) Where after the expiration of twenty-one days from the date of birth of any child information of the [F15 prescribed particulars] concerning the birth of that child has not been given to the [F16 district registrar for a registration district] in accordance with section 14 of this Act, the [F17 district] registrar for the registration district in which the child was born may serve a notice in the prescribed form on any person who is a qualified informant in relation to the birth requiring him—

(a) to attend personally at the registration office for the registration district before such date (being not less than eight days nor more than fifteen days after the date of service of the notice) as may be specified in the notice;

(b) to give information to the best of that person’s knowledge and belief of the particulars required to be registered concerning the birth; and

(c) to [F18 attest, in the prescribed manner, the birth registration form concerning the birth] in the presence of the registrar.

(2) If any person on whom a notice has been served in pursuance of the foregoing subsection fails to comply with the notice before the date specified therein the [F19 said] registrar may serve on that person a second notice in the prescribed form requiring him to attend personally as aforesaid within eight days from the date of service of the second notice.

(3) If on summary application by the [F20 said] registrar it appears to the sheriff that any person on whom a second notice has been served in pursuance of the last foregoing subsection has failed without reasonable cause to comply therewith within the period specified therein, the sheriff may grant decree ordaining the person to comply with the notice within such further period as may be specified in the decree; and any such decree may be enforced in like manner as a decreead factum praestandum.

(4) Any notice served under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section shall cease to have effect if, before it is complied with, particulars of the birth are duly registered.

Textual Amendments

F15 Words in s. 16(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(5)(a)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F16 Words in s. 16(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(5)(a)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F17 Word in s. 16(1) inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(5)(a)(iii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F18 Words in s. 16(1)(c) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(5)(a)(iv), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F19 Word in s. 16(2) inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(5)(b), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F20 Word in s. 16(3) inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(5)(c), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

[F21 16A Provision of birth particulars to Registrar General S

(1) Each Health Board shall in respect of each birth that occurs in its area, provide to the Registrar General, in such manner and at such times as the Registrar General and that body may agree, the prescribed particulars.

(2) The Registrar General shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the prescribed particulars of a birth have been provided to the Registrar General under subsection (1) above, make those particulars available to the district registrar for each registration district.

Textual Amendments

F21 Ss. 16A, 16B inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(6), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

16B Registration of births S

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the district registrar for a registration district shall register the particulars of a birth where, in accordance with this Part of this Act, the registrar has an attested birth registration form concerning the birth.

(2) The registrar is not to register a birth in respect of which he obtained the attested birth registration by virtue of section 14(1A)(b) of this Act until the registrar is satisfied that the prescribed particulars of the birth have been—

(a) provided to the Registrar General under section 16A of this Act; or

(b) provided to the relevant district registrar under section 50 of this Act.

(3) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, particulars of a birth are registered by entering the birth registration form concerning the birth in the relevant register kept by the district registrar performing the registration.

(4) In subsection (3) above, the “ relevant register ” means the register of births or, as the case may be, still-births. ]

Textual Amendments

F21 Ss. 16A, 16B inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(6), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

17 Registration after expiration of three months from date of birth or finding. S

(1) In no case shall the particulars of the birth of a child be registered by [F22 the district registrar for a registration district] after the expiration of three months from the date of birth of the child or, in the case of a living infant child who has been found exposed or a dead infant child who has been found exposed and in respect of whom evidence is produced that he was born alive, from the date of finding, without the authority in writing of the Registrar General.

[F23 (1A) For the purposes of subsection (1) above, authority which is given by electronic means is to be treated as if in writing if it is received in a form which is legible and capable of being used for subsequent reference.]

(2) The Registrar General may authorise the registration of the particulars of the birth of a child after the expiration of the said period although the information required for the registration of the particulars has not been given by a qualified informant:

Provided that the Registrar General shall not exercise his power under this subsection unless he is satisfied, after such inquiry as he thinks necessary, that the correct particulars concerning the birth are available.

Textual Amendments

F22 Words in s. 17(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(7)(a), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F23 S. 17(1A) inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(7)(b), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

[F24 18 Births of children born out of wedlock. S

( 1 ) [F25 Subject to section 18ZA of this Act] no person who is not married to the mother of a child and has not been married to her since the child’s conception shall be required, as father of the child, to give information concerning the birth of the child and, save as provided in section 20 of this Act, the [F26 district registrar for the registration district] shall not enter in the [F27 birth registration form concerning the birth] the name and surname of any such person as father of the child except—

(a) at the joint request of the mother and the person acknowledging himself to be the father of the child (in which case that person shall [F28 attest, in the prescribed manner, the birth registration form] together with the mother); or

(b) at the request of the mother—

(i) on the production of—

(aa) a declaration in the prescribed form made by the mother stating that that person is the father of the child; and

(bb) a statutory declaration made by that person acknowledging himself to be the father of the child; or

(ii) on production of a decree by a competent court finding or declaring that person to be the father of the child; or

(c) at the request of that person on production of—

(i) a declaration in the prescribed form by that person acknowledging himself to be the father of the child; and

(ii) a statutory declaration made by the mother stating that that person is the father of the child.

(1A) Where a person acknowledging himself to be the father of a child makes a request to the [F29 district registrar for the registration district] in accordance with paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section, he shall be treated as a qualified informant concerning the birth of the child for the purposes of this Act; and the giving of information concerning the birth of the child by that person and the [F30 attesting of the birth registration form concerning the birth] by him in the presence of the registrar shall act as a discharge of any duty of any other qualified informant under section 14 of this Act.]

(2) In any case where the name and surname of the father of [F31 a] child has not been entered in the [F32 birth registration form concerning the birth], the Registrar General may record that name and surname by causing an appropriate entry to be made in the Register of Corrections Etc.—

(a) if a decree of paternity has been granted by a competent court; or

(b) if there is produced to him [F33 a declaration and a statutory declaration such as are mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section]; or

(c) if, where the mother is [F34 dead or cannot be found or is incapable of making a request under subsection (1)(b) of this section, or a declaration under subsection (1)(b)(i)(aa) of this section, or a statutory declaration under subsection (1)(c)(ii) of this section], he is ordered so to do by the sheriff upon application made to the sheriff . . . F35 by the person acknowledging himself to be the father of the child.

Where a decree of paternity has been granted by any court the clerk of court shall, where no appeal has been made against such decree, on the expiration of the time within which such an appeal may be made, or where an appeal has been made against such a decree, on the conclusion of any appellate proceedings, notify the import of such decree in the prescribed form to the Registrar General.

[F36 (3) A person under the age of sixteen years has legal capacity—

(a) to make a request, declaration or statutory declaration under subsection (1) or (2)(b) above if, in the opinion of the registrar; or

(b) to make an application under subsection (2)(c) above if, in the opinion of the sheriff,

that person understands the nature of the request or, as the case may be, of the declaration, statutory declaration or application; and without prejudice to the generality of this subsection a person twelve years of age or more shall be presumed to be of sufficient age and maturity to have such understanding.]

Textual Amendments

F24 S. 18(1)(1A) substituted for s. 18(1) by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(2)

F25 Words in s. 18(1) inserted (1.12.2003) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Deceased Fathers) Act 2003 (c. 24), s. 4(2), Sch. para. 6; S.I. 2003/3095, art. 2

F26 Words in s. 18(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(8)(a)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F27 Words in s. 18(1) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(8)(a)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F28 Words in s. 18(1)(a) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(8)(a)(iii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F29 Words in s. 18(1A) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(8)(b)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F30 Words in s. 18(1A) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(8)(b)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F31 Words substituted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(3)(a)

F32 Words in s. 18(2) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 39(8)(c), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F33 Words substituted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(3)(b)

F34 Words substituted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(3)(c)

F35 Words repealed by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1)(2), Sch. 1 para. 8(3)(c), Sch. 2

F36 S. 18(3) added (1.11.1995) by 1995 c. 36, s. 99(3); S.I. 1995/2787, art. 3, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 18(1)(2) modified (1.11.1995) by 1995 c. 36, s. 99(4); S.I. 1995/2787, art. 3, Sch.

[F37 18ZA Registration of father by virtue of certain provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 S

(1) The registrar shall not enter in the register as the father of a child the name of a man who is to be treated for that purpose as the father of the child by virtue of section 28(5A), (5B), (5C) or (5D) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (circumstances in which man to be treated as father of child for purposes of registration of birth where fertility treatment undertaken after his death) unless the condition in subsection (2) below is satisfied.

(2) The condition in this subsection is satisfied if—

(a) the mother requests the registrar to make such an entry in the register and produces the relevant documents; or

(b) in the case of the death or inability of the mother, the relevant documents are produced by some other person who is a qualified informant.

(3) In this section “ the relevant documents ” means—

(a) the consent in writing and election mentioned in section 28(5A), (5B), (5C) or (as the case may be) (5D) of the Act of 1990;

(b) a certificate of a registered medical practitioner as to the medical facts concerned; and

(c) such other documentary evidence (if any) as the registrar considers appropriate.]

Textual Amendments

F37 S. 18ZA inserted (1.12.2003) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Deceased Fathers) Act 2003 (c. 24), s. 4(2), Sch. para. 7; S.I. 2003/3095, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 18ZA(3)(a) modified (1.12.2003) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Deceased Fathers) Act 2003 (c. 24), s. 3(6)(c); S.I. 2003/3095, art. 2

[F38 18A Decrees of parentage and non-parentage. S

(1) Where a decree of parentage or non-parentage has been granted by any court the clerk of court shall—

(a) where no appeal has been made against such decree, on the expiration of the time within which such an appeal may be made, or

(b) where an appeal has been made against such a decree, on the conclusion of any appellate proceedings,

notify the import of such decree in the prescribed form to the Registrar General.

( 2 ) Where it appears to the Registrar General that the import of a decree notified to him under subsection (1) above does not correspond with the entry in the register of births in respect of any person to whom the decree relates he shall cause an appropriate entry to be made in the Register of Corrections Etc.]

Textual Amendments

F38 S. 18A inserted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 18A(2) applied (4.4.2005) by Gender Recognition Act 2004 (c. 7), s. 26, Sch. 3 para. 18; S.I. 2005/54, art. 2

19 Free abbreviated certificate of birth. S

(1) At the time of registering the birth of any child, the registrar shall without charge give to the informant, or transmit by post to him within two working days after the date of registration, an abbreviated certificate of birth.

(2) Any such certificate shall be in the prescribed form and shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed including particulars of the name, surname, sex, date and place of birth of the child, but shall not include any particulars relating to parentage.

(3) This section shall not apply to re-registration of a birth under section 20 of this Act or to the registration of a still-birth under section 21 of this Act.

20 Re-registration in certain cases. S

(1) In the case of any person, if—

(a) the entry relating to him in the register of births is affected by any matter contained in the Register of Corrections Etc. respecting his status [F39 , parentage or non-parentage], or

(b) the entry relating to him in the register of births has been so made as to imply that he was found exposed, or

(c) the entry relating to him in the register of births [F40 has been so made as to imply that his parents were not then married to one another and his parents have subsequently married one another [F41 and subject to subsection (1B) below]],

the [F42 birth may, where subsection (1A) below applies, be re-registered], and any such re-registration shall be effected in such manner as may be prescribed:

[F43 (1A) This subsection applies—

(a) where the Registrar General authorises the re-registration, and

(b) in such other cases or classes of case as may be prescribed.

(1B) A birth may not be re-registered] in pursuance of paragraph (c) of [F44 subsection (1) above], in a case where the paternity of the person has not been entered in the register of births or in the Register of Corrections Etc. in accordance with section 18 of this Act, or any corresponding enactment in force before the commencement of this Act, save with the sanction of the sheriff granted upon the application—

(i) of both parents of the person jointly, or

(ii) where one of the parents is dead, of the surviving parent, or

(iii) where both parents are dead, of or on behalf of the person,

after such intimation as the sheriff may direct, and after due inquiry, and a hearing of any party having interest who may appear to oppose such application.

(2) In this section any reference to the register of births includes a reference to any register of births kept under any enactment in force at any time before the commencement of this Act.

[F45 ( 3 ) Subject to the proviso in subsection (1) of this section, an application for re-registration of a person’s birth under this section may be made—

(a) if the person is under 16 years of age [F46 , by any person (whether or not he has himself attained the age of sixteen years) having parental responsibilities in relation to that person;]

F47 ( b ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) if the person is of or over [ F48 16] years of age, by the person himself; or

(d) in any case, by any person who may be prescribed by regulations made under this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F39 Words substituted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8) , s. 10(1) , Sch. 1 para. 8(5) ( a )

F40 Words substituted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8) , s. 10(1) , Sch. 1 para. 8(5) ( b )

F41 Words in s. 20(1) inserted (1.10.2006) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14) , ss. 41(2)(a)(i) , 63(2) ; S.S.I. 2006/469 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 (with art. 4 )

F42 Words in s. 20(1) substituted (1.10.2006) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14) , ss. 41(2)(a)(ii) , 63(2) ; S.S.I. 2006/469 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 (with art. 4 )

F43 S. 20(1A)(1B) substituted for words in s. 20(1) (1.10.2006) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14) , ss. 41(2)(a)(iii) , 63(2) ; S.S.I. 2006/469 , art. 2 , Sch. 1 (with art. 4 )

F44 Words in s. 20(1B) substituted (1.10.2006) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 41(2)(a)(iv), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 4)

F45 S. 20(3) added by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), s. 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 8(6)

F46 Words in s. 20(3)(a) substituted (1.11.1995) for s. 20(3)(a)(i)(ii) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 12(2); S.I. 1995/2787, art. 3, Sch .

F47 S. 20(3)(b) repealed (25.9.1991) by Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 (c. 50, SIF 49:8), ss. 10(2), 11(2), Sch. 2

F48 Word in s. 20(3)(c) substituted (25.9.1991) by Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 (c. 50, SIF 49:8), ss. 10(1), 11(2), Sch. 1, para. 28

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 20(1) amended by Adoption Act 1968 (c. 53) , s. 85(d) and Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 28) , s. 67(2) , Sch. 1 para. 5

C6 S. 20(3) applied (4.4.2005) by Gender Recognition Act 2004 (c. 7), s. 26, Sch. 3 para. 18; S.I. 2005/54, art. 2

21 Still-births. S

(1) Except so far as otherwise provided by this section or as may be prescribed, the provisions of this Part of this Act shall, so far as applicable, apply to still-births in like manner as they apply to births of children born alive.

(2) Any qualified informant giving information to the [F49 district registrar for a registration district] of the particulars required to be registered concerning a still-birth shall—

(a) [F50 produce] to the registrar a certificate in the prescribed form stating that the child was not born alive, and, where possible, the cause or probable cause of death and such particulars of the condition of the mother before the still-birth as may be requested in that form, which certificate shall, if a registered medical practioner was present at the birth or has examined the body of the child, be [F51 attested in the prescribed manner] by him, and otherwise shall be [F51 attested in the prescribed manner] by any [F52 registered midwife] who was present or examined the body; or

(b) make a declaration in the prescribed form to the effect that to the best of his knowledge and belief no registered medical practitioner or [F52 registered midwife] was present at the birth or has examined the body, or that his or her certificate cannot be obtained and that the child was not born alive.

(3) Every registered medical practitioner or [F52 registered midwife] who was present at a still-birth or examined the body of a still-born child shall, at the request of any person who by virtue of this Act is required to.

[F53 (a) give information concerning that birth, give to that person a certificate for the purposes of paragraph (a) of the last foregoing subsection][F54 ; or

(b) deliver such a certificate on that person's behalf to a district registrar for a registration district nominated by that person.]

(4) The [F55 district registrar for a registration district], upon registering a still-birth, shall give to the informant without fee a certificate in the prescribed form stating that the still-birth has been registered [F56 or, if the person so requests, deliver such a certificate on that person's behalf to a keeper or other person having charge of a place of interment nominated by that person].

(5) The keeper or other person having the charge of a place of interment in which the body of a still-born child shall have been buried shall, unless a certificate given under the last foregoing subsection in respect of the still-birth has been delivered to him, give, within three days after the burial, notice thereof in the prescribed form to the registrar of the registration district in which the still-birth took place.

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F57

Textual Amendments

F49 Words in s. 21(2) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 40(2)(a), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F50 Word in s. 21(2)(a) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 40(2)(b)(i), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F51 Words in s. 21(2)(a) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 40(2)(b)(ii), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F52 Words “registered midwife” substituted for words “certified midwife” by Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 (c. 36) , s. 24(2) , Sch. 7 para. 12

F53 Words in s. 21(3) renumbered as s. 21(3)(a) (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 40(3)(a), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F54 S. 21(3)(b) and word inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 40(3)(b), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F55 Words in s. 21(4) substituted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 40(4)(a), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F56 Words in s. 21(4) inserted (1.10.2006 for specified purposes, 1.1.2007 in so far as not already in force) by Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 14), ss. 40(4)(b), 63(2); S.S.I. 2006/469, arts. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2 (with art. 4)

F57 S.21(6) repealed by Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 (c. 36) , s. 24(2) , Sch. 7 para. 13 , Sch. 8