Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953

2 Information concerning birth to be given to registrar within forty–two days. E+W

[F1 (1)] In the case of every birth it shall be the duty—

(a) of the father and mother of the child; and

(b) in the case of the death or inability of the father and mother, of each other qualified informant,

to give to the registrar, before the expiration of a period of forty–two days from the date of the birth, information of the particulars required to be registered concerning the birth, and in the presence of the registrar to sign the register:

Provided that—

(i)

the giving of information and the signing of the register by any one qualified informant shall act as a discharge of any duty under this section of every other qualified informant;

(ii)

this section shall cease to apply if, before the expiration of the said period and before the birth has been registered, [F2 an investigation is conducted under Part 1 of the 2009 Act, other than one that is discontinued under section 4 of that Act (cause of death [F3 becoming clear before inquest]), in the course of which] the child is found to have been still–born.

[F4 (2) In the case of a child who has a parent by virtue of section 42 or 43 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, the references in subsection (1) to the father of the child are to be read as references to the woman who is a parent by virtue of that section.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 2(1): s. 2 renumbered as s. 2(1) (6.4.2009 for specified purposes, 1.9.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c. 22), s. 68(2), Sch. 6 para. 3; S.I. 2009/479, art. 6(1)(e)(2) (with art. 7, Sch.)

F2 Words in s. 2 substituted (25.7.2013) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(e), Sch. 21 para. 7 (with s. 180); S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(o)(i)

F3 Words in s. 2(1) substituted (28.6.2022) by Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (c. 35), ss. 39(4)(a), 51(3)

F4 S. 2(2) inserted (6.4.2009 for specified purposes, 1.9.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c. 22), s. 68(2), Sch. 6 para. 3; S.I. 2009/479, art. 6(1)(e)(2) (with art. 7, Sch.)