Search Legislation

Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953

Changes to legislation:

Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 11 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Registration of Births

    1. 1. Particulars of births to be registered.

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

    3. 3. Information concerning finding of new–born child to be given to registrar within forty–two days.

    4. 3A. Registration of births of abandoned children.

    5. 4. Registrar’s power to require information concerning birth.

    6. 5. Registration of births free of charge.

    7. 6. Registration between three and twelve months from date of birth.

    8. 7. Registration after twelve months from date of birth.

    9. 8. Penalty for improper registration after 12 months from date of birth.

    10. 9. Giving of information to a person other than the registrar.

    11. 10. Registration of father where parents not married or of second female parent where parents not civil partners

    12. 10ZA.Registration of father or second female parent by virtue of certain provisions of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008

    13. 10A.Re-registration where parents neither married nor civil partners

    14. 11. Special provision as to registration of still–birth.

    15. 12. Certificate of registration of birth.

    16. 13. Registration of name of child or of alteration of name.

    17. 14. Re–registration of births of legitimated persons.

    18. 14A. Re–registration after declaration of parentage.

  3. Part II Registration of Deaths

    1. 15. Particulars of deaths to be registered.

    2. 16. Information concerning death in a house.

    3. 17. Information concerning other deaths.

    4. 18. Notice preliminary to information of death.

    5. 19. Registrar’s power to require information concerning death.

    6. 20. Registration of death free of charge.

    7. 21. Registration of death after twelve months.

    8. 22. Certificates of cause of death.

    9. 23. Furnishing of information by coroner.

    10. 23A.Giving of information concerning a death to a person other than the registrar

    11. 24. Certificates as to registration of death.

  4. Part III General

    1. Registers, certified copies, etc.

      1. 25. Provision of registers, etc., by Registrar General.

      2. 26. Quarterly returns to be made by registrar to superintendent registrar.

      3. 27. Quarterly returns by superintendent registrar to Registrar General.

      4. 28. Custody of registers, etc.

      5. 29. Correction of errors in registers.

      6. 29A. Alternative procedure for certain corrections.

    2. Searches and Certificates

      1. 30. Searches of indexes kept by Registrar General.

      2. 31. Searches of indexes kept by superintendent registrars.

      3. 32. Searches in registers kept by registrars.

      4. 33. Short certificate of birth.

      5. 34. Entry in register as evidence of birth or death.

    3. Offences

      1. 35. Offences relating to registers.

      2. 36. Penalties for failure to given information, etc.

      3. 37. Penalty for forging certificate, etc.

      4. 38. Prosecution of offences and application of fines.

    4. Miscellaneous

      1. 39. Regulations.

      2. 40. Sending documents by post.

      3. 41. Interpretation.

      4. 42. Savings, etc.

      5. 43. Repeals and consequential amendments.

      6. 44. Short title, extent and commencement.

    1. FIRST SCHEDULE

      Consequential Amendments of other Enactments

      1. 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

      2. B. The Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1926 (16 & 17 Geo.5. c.88)

        1. 2.In subsection (1) of section one, for the reference to...

        2. 3.In section five, for the reference to a certificate given...

      3. The Legitimacy Act, 1926 (16 & 17 Geo. 5. c.60)

        1. 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. SECOND SCHEDULE

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources