Register a stillbirth

We will make every effort to send a registrar to your home or to the hospital to register the stillbirth at a time convenient for you.

You can also register the stillbirth at one of our register offices. 

When you register the stillbirth, you will be given a stillbirth certificate. You can name the baby in the register and arrange a funeral for your baby. You'll be given a form that allows you to make arrangements for either burial or cremation. 

Separate procedures apply where the the stillbirth has been referred to the Coroner.

Who can register the stillbirth

If the baby's parents are married, either the mother or father can register.

The mother can sign if:

• the baby's parents aren't married
• the father can't be traced or is unknown

If both parents want the father's name in the register:

• both parents can sign the register together
• the mother can sign and bring a 'signed declaration' from the father (the register office can explain how to do this).

If the father registers the stillbirth and the parents aren't married, the mother will need to make a 'signed declaration'. Contact us for more information.

If neither parent can attend

The following people can register the stillbirth:

• the occupier of the hospital or house where the stillbirth took place
• someone who was present at the stillbirth
• someone who is responsible for the stillborn child
• the person who found the stillborn child, if the date and place of the stillbirth are unknown

What you'll need to tell us

You need the medical certificate of stillbirth issued by the doctor or midwife, unless the still-birth has been referred to the Coroner, in which case the Coroner's office will advise you what to do.

We will ask you for:

• the date and place of the stillbirth (the time is only required in the case of multiple stillbirths e.g. twins)
• name (if you had chosen one), surname and sex of the baby (please note that a name cannot be added at a later date)
• parents' names, surnames and address
• places and dates of parents' births
• date of parents' marriage if applicable
• parents' occupations
• mother's maiden surname

If the stillbirth occurred outside of the Dorset Council area

You can still go to a Dorset Council register office to register by 'declaration'. We will send this onto the register office in the district where the baby was born and they will send you the certificate, usually within a week.

Support and taking time off work

If you would like any information on support available to you, contact us or visit the GOV.UK website.

Privacy Notice

For more information about how we handle your personal data see the Registration Service Privacy Notice.