How to Register a Stillbirth: UK, US, Australia, and Canada

You shouldn't have to research civil registration procedures during the worst week of your life. But the deadlines exist whether you're ready or not, and missing them creates administrative complications that add to your burden later. Here's exactly what you need to do, by country.

United Kingdom

Stillbirth (baby born dead after 24 weeks)

Deadline: 42 days from the date of birth in England and Wales. 21 days in Scotland.

Where: Your local register office. You'll need to book an appointment — most offices can accommodate urgent requests when you explain the circumstances.

Who can register:

• If the parents are married or in a civil partnership: either parent can attend alone
• If the parents are unmarried: both parents must attend together for the father's name to be included on the certificate. If only the mother attends, the father's details can be added later through a statutory declaration of acknowledgment of parentage, signed before a solicitor or magistrate.
• Same-sex female couples: both parents can register if they meet the requirements under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008

Documents to bring:

• The medical certificate of stillbirth (issued by the doctor or midwife who attended the birth)
• ID for the registering parent(s)

What you receive: A Certificate of Stillbirth. This is an official document that confirms the birth and death. The baby's name will appear on the certificate if you've chosen one.

Neonatal death (baby born alive, then dies)

If your baby was born alive — even briefly — you need to register both a birth and a death separately.

• Birth registration: within 42 days (England/Wales) or 21 days (Scotland)
• Death registration: within 5 days (England), or 8 days (Scotland)
• The death registrar will need the medical certificate of cause of death, issued by the doctor who attended or examined your baby

United States

In the US, the hospital handles much of the paperwork:

Fetal Death Certificate: Hospitals generally file these for fetal deaths after 20 weeks, but state reporting criteria differ. This is an administrative record, not something parents typically request.

Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth (CBRS): Some states issue a commemorative certificate that formally recognizes that a birth occurred. This is not a legal birth certificate — it can't be used for identification — but it provides official acknowledgment that your baby existed. Some states call it a Certificate of Stillbirth (CoS). Processing times and fees vary.

If your baby was born alive and died: The hospital files both a birth certificate and a death certificate. Parents receive copies through their state vital records office.

Social Security Number: If your baby was born alive, a Social Security number may have been issued. Funeral homes generally report deaths to the Social Security Administration; if no funeral home is involved or you think the death was not reported, contact SSA to ask what is needed.

Australia

Stillbirth registration: Each state or territory registry sets the process. For Services Australia's Stillborn Baby Payment, a stillbirth must meet the definition of at least 20 weeks' gestation or a birth weight of at least 400g, with no signs of life. Contact your local Births, Deaths and Marriages registry for the registration deadline, documents, and certificate available.

Neonatal death: Contact the hospital and state or territory registry about the birth and death records and whether the hospital has submitted anything on your behalf.

Centrelink notification: If you were receiving family benefits or had a pending claim, notify Centrelink as soon as you're able to adjust your payments.

Canada

Requirements vary by province:

• Stillbirth registration: Requirements, deadlines, and available certificates differ by province or territory. Contact the provincial or territorial vital statistics office to confirm what applies.
• Live birth followed by death: Contact the vital statistics office about registering the birth and death and which certificates are available.
• Canada Child Benefit: If you were receiving or had applied for the CCB, notify the CRA to adjust your claim.

Practical Tips for Registration Day

The appointment itself is straightforward but emotionally difficult. A few things that help:

• Bring someone with you. Having a partner, parent, or friend there means you don't have to drive afterward if the visit hits you harder than expected.
• If you haven't chosen a name, ask the registrar what options the local record allows before registering. Rules for naming or amending a record differ by jurisdiction.
• Ask about additional copies. You may need the certificate for insurance claims, employer documentation, and possibly funeral arrangements. Ask the register office how to order copies and what each one costs.
• If unmarried parents can't both attend (UK): The father's details can be added later through a statutory declaration of acknowledgement of parentage, signed before a solicitor or magistrate. Ask the register office how to arrange it.

You Shouldn't Have to Do This Research

Registration is one of dozens of administrative tasks that pile up in the first days and weeks after a baby dies — alongside funeral planning, employer notifications, lactation management, insurance claims, and benefit adjustments. The When Your Baby Dies toolkit consolidates all of these into a single sequenced checklist, organized by timeline, so you know exactly what needs to happen and when — without spending your grieving hours on government websites.