New South Wales - Still Birth Certificate

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Procedure

The hospital will supply you with a Birth Registration Statement.

• Complete the application form accurately and mailed to the Registry within 60 days of the child's birth. A Birth Certificate Application form is included and the usual certificate fee applies. Applications are available on the New South Wales, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages website, or at the office.
• Complete the application. Check whether you want a commemorative or standard certificate.
• Incomplete applications cause delays and may be returned, or refused. Please ensure you read and understand all of the information before submitting your application.
• Attach photocopies of your identification certified by a qualified witness as true copies of the original. A qualified witness is a: Justice of the Peace; notary public; legal practitioner with current practising certificate; and/or a person authorised to administer an oath under Section 26 of the Oaths Act 1900.
• Pay for the birth certificate.
• Submit the completed application, payment and identification in person or by mail.

NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages

GPO Box 30

SYDNEY NSW 2001

• Registry will not accept applications or forms of ID by fax or email.
• If any changes to the child's name are requested by the parent/s a "Change of Name" registration and applicable fees will be required.
• Please call on 1300 655 236 if you:
  • require assistance to complete the Birth Registration Statement, or
  • have not registered your child's birth within 60 days, or
  • have misplaced the birth registration form.

Registering a homebirth

• All births are registered according to two sources of information
  • the Birth Registration Statement (BRS) usually supplied by the parents, and a notification (provided to the Registry by either):
  • the hospital in which the birth occurred (or a child and mother taken to within 24 hours of the birth), or
  • by a doctor or registered midwife who attended the birth, or
  • by independent witnesses who saw the birth occur.
• Every birth must be confirmed by a notification

Unplanned homebirth - child in hospital within 24hrs

• If the birth occured at home or in a location other than a hospital and the child is taken to a hospital within 24 hours of the birth;
  • The hospital should notify the Registry of the birth and should provide the mother with a BRS.
  • The mother must complete the BRS and mail to the Registry within 60 days of the birth.

Birth with a registered doctor or midwife

• If the birth occured in a location other than a hospital with a registered doctor or registered midwife in attendance;
  • The registered doctor or midwife will advise the Registry of the birth. They will also provide the mother with a BRS.
  • The mother must complete the BRS and send it to the Registry within 60 days of the birth.

Birth without a registered doctor or midwife

• If the birth occured in a location other than a hospital without a registered doctor or midwife in attendance and the child was NOT taken to a hospital within 24 hours of the birth;
  • the mother should consider having two independent witnesses present at the birth (can't be parents of the child).
  • The witnesses must have seen the birth occur and be prepared to sign Statutory Declarations which contain specific statements relating to the birth (must be prepared in the Registry).
  • Call the Registry on 1300 655 236 and provide your name and home address, and names and addresses of the two witnesses who saw the birth occur.
  • Statutory Declarations will then be prepared and posted to the witnesses. Once returned to the Registry and in order, a BRS will be posted to you.
  • Complete the BRS and send it to the Registry within 60 days of the childs birth.

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Required Documents

• To protect your privacy, the Registry requires proof of your identity. All certificate applications must be accompanied by identification.
  • If you are the person named on the certificate, or a parent of the person named on the certificate, the birth certificate can be issued to you.
• If you DO meet the above criteria, please provide:
  • Three (3) forms of your own identification (see below).
• If you DON'T meet the above criteria, please provide:
  • A letter giving permission from the person named on the certificate or their parent. Include their address, daytime telephone number and signature.
  • Three (3) forms of identification from the person giving permission (see below).
  • Three (3) forms of your own identification (see below).

Identification

• Please provide at least three (3) forms of identification, one of each from Categories 1, 2 and 3. If you are

Office Locations & Contacts

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Eligibility

Following persons are eligible to register and apply for Birth certificate with valid proof of identifications.

• You and your parents are eligible to apply for your Birth Certificates.
• If you are the person named on the certificate or a parent of the person, please provide:
  • At least three (3) forms of your identification with your application.
• If you are not the person named on the certificate or their parent, you must satisfy one of the following conditions:
  • Provide written authority and identification from the person named on the certificate or one of their parents, plus your own identification.
  • Show Power of Attorney relating to the person named on the certificate or one of their parents.
  • Be a solicitor/welfare group acting for the person named on the certificate.
  • Be a legally appointed guardian of the person named on the certificate.

Solicitors Applying for a Certificate

• Where solicitors apply for certificates on behalf of clients, they must provide:
  • A letter on company letterhead stating the reason required ("legal" is not sufficient; a specific reason is needed i.e. Probate, Estate Administration, etc), together with the name of the client for whom the solicitor is acting.
  • The letter must be accompanied by:
    • a completed application form, and
    • a certified* copy of your Law Society ID Card or Practising Certificate.
• Solicitor's name must be written in the Applicant's Details section. Payment must be made with a company or trust cheque, or company credit card.

Note: *Photocopies must be certified as true copies of the original by a Qualified Witness (e.g. Justice of the Peace; notary public; legal practitioner with current practising certificate; person authorised to administer an oath under S.26 of the Oaths Act 1900).

Fees

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Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Instructions

• In cases where an index entry was made, the Registry is now able to expand these entries to produce a full Birth Registration.
• An index item (which may be a partial registration) will only be expanded to a full Birth Registration upon the request of the parents.
• The parent(s) should apply for a Standard Birth Certificate in the usual manner. You will then be contacted and may be asked to supply further information.
• The Registry is currently able to register stillbirths as birth registrations. These registrations will include a notation of the stillbirth.
• The Registry does not register the stillbirth as a death, and therefore cannot issue a Death Certificate.
• You may also apply for a Commemorative Birth Certificate (includes a Standard Birth Certificate) for your stillborn child.

Register Childs Birth

• Parents must provide the Registry with the full details of the child's birth for it to be registered and for a Birth Certificate to be produced.
• There is no fee for registering a birth.
• Registry will keep a permanent record of the registration so you or your child can obtain a Birth Certificate at any time. Some information may also be used for important medical research and community planning purposes, but is kept strictly confidential and only you or your child, or a legal guardian can purchase a copy of the Birth Certificate.
• The hospital will supply you with a Birth Registration Statement.
• Please ensure the form is completed accurately and mailed to the Registry within 60 days of the child's birth. A Birth Certificate Application form is included and the usual certificate fee applies.

Obtain Childs Birth Certificate

• Registry of Births issue Birth Certificates for births or adoptions that occurred in NSW only. For births outside NSW, please contact the relevant Registry Offices in Australia.
• For a birth which occured over 100 years ago, please see Family History Certificates.
• Applications must be accompanied by Proof of Identification to ensure your privacy is maintained and information is only released to those entitled.
• Pay for the birth certificate. The cost for a standard birth certificate is $45, and a commemorative birth certificate is $66 (as of 2011). The price increases for urgent delivery. Checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted.
• You can enter the credit card number on the application, or enclose a check or money order made payable to the "NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages."

Required Information

Applicant details

• Applicants Name
• Postal Address
• Reason for requesting the certificate
• Relationship to the Person named on the certificate

Certificate Details

• Family name
• Given Names
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Mothers Full Name
• Fathers Full Name
• Residential Address

Need for the Document

Laws for registering stillbirths have changed many times over the years. At times, stillborn babies have been registered as a birth, a death, or both.

1935-1969: Stillbirths may be registered as a birth or a death, or both in some instances.

1969 onwards: A stillbirth can only be registered as a birth. A Death Certificate can not be issued.

1970 1992: The Registry was prohibited by Legislation from issuing Birth Certificates for stillborn children. However, in some cases an index entry (a partial registration) was made. See below instruction.

Currently: The Registry is able to register the birth of stillborn children. Birth Certificates are available by completing an Application and paying the normal fee.

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

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