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How to Register a Birth

• Both the mother and father must complete and sign the Registration of Live Birth form. 
• The child’s name must be written entirely in characters of the Roman alphabet. If identifiers such as Junior, Jr., II or III are included in either the given name(s) or surname of the child, it will become part of their legal name. A child’s surname can contain no more than two names hyphenated or combined. 
• The rules for choosing a surname must be followed.
• If the birth occurs in a hospital, the hospital requires the completion of the Registration of Live Birth form before the mother is discharged.  If this does not happen, the staff will complete and submit one on behalf of the parents.  If the birth does not occur in a hospital, the Mother and/or Father must contact the Health Services Administration office on steps to register the child.
• Once the Registrar General of Vital Statistics receives the Registration of Live Birth form, the information is checked and verified. Any missing or incorrect information is followed up with the appropriate parties (i.e. mother, father and/or hospital) for correction. The completed registration is entered into a computer database and the hardcopy registration is permanently filed. 
• The Registrar General of Vital Statistics does not send notification of receipt of the Registration of Live Birth form.  However, if child is ‘unnamed’ or parents are not married and Father’s name is on the Registration but has not signed, then a follow-up letter will be written with required statutory declarations.
• There is no fee to register a birth within one year of the date of birth.
• The information collected on the Registration of Live Birth form is collected under the authority of the Vital Statistics Act, 1988. The information provided is necessary to register the birth, produce certificates and provide statistical and demographic information.