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Registration of Births
Related Pages: Fees Schedule | Obtaining a Birth Certificate
Obtaining a Birth Certificate
Registering the birth of a child is a legal requirement and is in the interests of both the parents and the child.
If a birth is not registered, a parent will not be able to obtain a birth certificate for the child.
Birth Certificates are required for many reasons such as school enrolment, passport, driver's licence, sporting clubs, Government benefits.
Who registers the birth?
A parent of a child born in the Territory and the Chief Executive Officer of a hospital, or any person responsible for the professional care of a mother at the birth, are each required to furnish to the Registrar details relating to the birth of the child. The time allowed to supply these details are 60 days and 10 days respectively.
Even though the birth is registered, the issuing of a birth certificate after registration is NOT automatic. A separate written application must be made and accompanied by identification and the appropriate fee for a birth certificate or an extract from the Register. See 'Obtaining a Birth Certificate' in Related Pages.
The cost of a birth certificate is outlined in the Births, Deaths and Marriages fees schedule (see in Related Pages).
Information needed to register a birth
The parents of a child are jointly responsible for having the child's birth registered, and both must sign the Birth Registration Statement, whether they are lawfully married or not. If only one parent signs the Birth Registration Statement, he or she must attach a note explaining why the other parent is unable to sign.
The Birth Registration Statement contains the details prescribed by Regulation, namely:
- Details of the baby such as name, sex and whether a multiple birth,
- Date and place of birth,
- Details of the parents and previous children.
Parents should be as accurate as they can with all the information. Some detail, such as birthweight of the child, is for statistical purposes only and will not be shown on the birth certificate.
The certification is very important as it confirms all the information the parents have given about the child. Both Signatures must to be witnessed by a person over the age of 18 yrs.
A postal address is also required on the back of the form for certificates to be posted to that address.
The Birth Registration Statement will be provided by the Hospital or Health Centre where the birth occurs. In the case of a baby born at home, forms will generally be provided by supporting attendants at the birth.
For further information, email RegistrarGeneral.DOJ@nt.gov.au