Births and Deaths Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

Registration of births N.I.

10.—(1) Subject to this Part, the birth of every child shall be registered [F1 in a register by any registrar together with] such particulars concerning the birth as may be prescribed; and different registers shall be kept for live-births and still-births respectively.

(2) Where a living infant child is found exposed and no information as to the place of birth is available, the birth shall be registered by the registrar for the district in which the child is found.

(3) The following persons shall be qualified to give information concerning a birth, that is to say—

(a) the father and mother of the child;

(b) any aunt, uncle, grandfather and grandmother of the child who has knowledge of the birth;

(c) the occupier of the premises in which the child was to the knowledge of the occupier born;

(d) any person present at the birth;

(e) any person having charge of the child.

(4) Except as provided for in [F2 Articles 14 and 14ZA], it shall, subject to paragraphs (6) and (8), be the duty—

(a) of the father or mother of the child;

(b) in the case of the death or inability of the father and mother, of each other qualified informant;

to give to [F3 any registrar], before the expiration of a period of forty-two days from the date of the birth, information of—

(i) the particulars required to be registered concerning the birth; and

(ii) such other particulars as may be prescribed;

[F4 in such manner as may be prescribed].

[F5 (4A) In the case of a child who has a parent by virtue of section 42 or 43 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, the references in paragraphs (3)(a) and (4) to the father of the child are to be read as references to the woman who is a parent by virtue of that section.]

(5) The Registrar General shall make such arrangements as are necessary for the collection and collation of the particulars given to registrars under paragraph (4), and for that purpose he shall make arrangements for the preparation and issue of any necessary forms and instructions.

(6) Where any qualified informant gives the required information concerning a birth [F6 in the prescribed manner], every other qualified informant shall cease to be under a duty to do so.

(7) Where the Registrar General is satisfied, after such inquiry as he thinks necessary, that the correct particulars concerning a birth are available, he may authorise the registration of the birth even if the information is not given by a qualified informant.

(8) Paragraph (4) shall cease to apply to a birth if, before the expiration of the period referred to in that paragraph and before the birth is registered, an inquest is held at which the child is found to have been still-born.

F1 Words in art. 10(1) substituted (3.10.2011) by Civil Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 20), ss. 1(2), 34; S.R. 2011/323, art. 2(a)

F2 Words in art. 10(4) substituted (6.4.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 1.9.2009) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c. 22), ss. 56, 68(2), Sch. 6 para. 60(2); S.I. 2009/479, arts. 5(h), 6(1)(e)(f)(2) (with transitional provisions in art. 7, Sch. 1)

F3 Words in art. 10(4) substituted (3.10.2011) by Civil Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 20), ss. 1(3)(a), 34; S.R. 2011/323, art. 2(a)

F4 Words in art. 10(4) substituted (16.11.2012) by Civil Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 20), ss. 1(3)(b), 34; S.R. 2012/406, art. 2, Sch.

F5 Art. 10(4A) inserted (6.4.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 1.9.2009) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c. 22), ss. 56, 68(2), Sch. 6 para. 60(3); S.I. 2009/479, arts. 5(h), 6(1)(e)(f)(2) (with transitional provisions in art. 7, Sch. 1)

F6 Words in art. 10(6) substituted (16.11.2012) by Civil Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 20), ss. 1(4), 34; S.R. 2012/406, art. 2, Sch.