Welcome to sthelens.gov.uk

Appointment times are between the hours of 9.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Please telephone 01744 676789 to arrange an appointment.

All babies born in St Helens, at home, must be registered at the Register Office in St Helens, within six weeks of their birth unless there are exceptional circumstances.

What you should take

You should take at least one form of identification when you go to the Register Office. You can use:

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Deed poll
• Driving licence
• Proof of address (e.g. utility bill)
• Council tax bill
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate

What you need to do

You should also take your child’s personal child health record or ‘red book’ as some registrars may ask to see it.

• You will need to provide information about the mother, father and baby.
• Both parents must attend the registration if you are not married and the father’s details are to be recorded.
• If you are married, only the mother or father needs to attend.
• You may wish to buy a birth certificate. 

What you will receive

• A birth certificate, which is a complete copy of the register entry, is available for a charge of £11.
• Further certificates may be bought at the time of registration or at any time afterwards. You can obtain further information about obtaining copy certificates.

Babies born in Whiston Hospital are registered at Knowsley Register Office.

• Book an appointment online

Knowsley Register Office
High Street, Prescot
L34 3LD

Opening times: 9am - 5pm, Mon to Fri

Email: registrars@knowsley.gov.uk

Telephone: 0151 443 2900

What is re-registration?

Re-registration is the completion of a new record of birth, which replaces an original registration.

Why do I need to re-register my child's birth?

If the natural parents marry after the birth of their child, they are required under the Legitimacy Act 1976 to apply for the re-registration of their child's birth.

• Re-registration form

Where can I re-register the birth?

It is best to attend the Register Office where the original birth was registered. 

However, you can do this at any Register Office in England and Wales, providing the child was born in England or Wales, if it is not the Register Office who registered the birth, you will have to provide a full birth certificate for the child, dated after your marriage.  

How do I apply?

For re-registration after marriage, a re-registration form (LA1) must be completed and signed by both natural parents, but only one of the parents will need to attend the Register Office.

What you need to do

• Make an appointment at the Register Office where the original birth was registered. 
• Complete the re-registration form (LA1)
• Bring the original birth certificate  
• Bring your marriage certificate

The registrar will usually be able to authorise the re-registration, otherwise it must be authorised by the Registrar General. The registrar will be able to advise on this.

Can my child's surnames be changed?

You may be able to change your child's surname. Check with your local Register Office.

Is there a fee for re-registration?

No, the re-registration is free but there is the usual charge for the issue of any new certificates.

Babies born outside St Helens district can be made by declaration to St Helens Register Office.

Please telephone 01744 676789 to arrange an appointment.

Appointment times are between the hours of 9.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Please note: You will not receive baby's certificates at the appointment, you will need to contact the district to obtain a certificate.

What you should take

You should take at least one form of identification when you go to the register office. You can use:

• passport
• birth certificate
• deed poll
• driving licence
• proof of address (e.g. utility bill)
• council tax bill
• marriage or civil partnership certificate

You should also take your child’s personal child health record or ‘red book’ as some registrars may ask to see it.

What you need to do

• You will need to provide information about the mother, father and baby.
• Both parents must attend the registration if you are not married and the father’s details are to be recorded.
• If you are married, only the mother or father needs to attend.
• The registrar will collect the information and send all the signed documents to the district of birth.
• Postage fees apply. 

What you will receive

• A full birth certificate, which is a complete copy of the register entry, is available for a charge by contacting the district of registration. 
• Further certificates may be bought any time afterwards. You can obtain further information about obtaining copy certificates.

To add the father to the birth record you need to re-register the birth. Re-registration is the completion of a new record of birth, which replaces an original registration.

Why do I need to re-register my child's birth?

A birth may be re-registered to include the details of the natural father where the parents were not married at the time of the birth, have not married since and no father's name was recorded at the time of the original registration.

• Adding father to the birth record (Form 185)

Where can I re-register the birth?

You can do this at any Register Office in England and Wales, providing the child was born in England or Wales.

How do I apply?

To add the natural father's details where parents are not married, a form adding father to the birth record (Form 185) must be completed and both parents need to visit the Register Office.

(You may attend alone if you can produce a Statutory Declaration from the other parent or a copy of parental responsibility agreement or a court order.)

What you need to do

• Make an appointment at the Register Office
• Complete the adding father the birth record (Form 185)
• Bring the original birth certificate
• Both parents need to attend or bring Statutory Declaration/court order etc.

Can my child's surnames be changed?

You may be able to change your child's surname. Check with your local Register Office.

When can I re-register the birth?

You will need to complete the forms and then make an appointment to see the registrar.

The registrar will usually be able to authorise the re-registration, otherwise it must be authorised by the Registrar General. The registrar will be able to advise on this.

Is there a fee for re-registration?

No, the re-registration is free but there is the usual charge for the issue of any new certificates.