Register a birth

Book an appointment

If your baby was born in Leeds, you must make an appointment to register the birth.

Leeds Register Office - Merrion House

Our main register office in Merrion House in Leeds city centre has the most appointment slots and is open for bookings from 8:45am to 3:55pm Monday to Friday, with some availability on Saturdays.

Our location:

Other register offices in Leeds

You can also book at other register offices in Armley, Moor Allerton, Morley, St George’s (Middleton) and Seacroft.

These have reduced availability. Dates and times will be provided when you book online.

Book an appointment

Babies born outside of Leeds

If your baby was not born in Leeds, you can give details of the birth in Leeds although we are unable to issue birth certificates to you. The details will be sent to the Register Office in the district where the birth took place. You will need to contact them to order certificates.  

Stillbirths and infants who have died

To register a stillbirth or a baby who has died, please call us to make a priority appointment.  

Phone

0113 222 4408
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when we're open from 10am)

Please do not use the online booking form.

You can also find more information on how to register a stillbirth.  

Cost

Registering a birth is free. But you can choose to buy birth certificates and A4 card keepsake wallets.

Pay in advance when you book your appointment or pay when you register the birth.

Birth certificates: £12.50 each

There are two types of birth certificate you can buy:

• the short version which contains the baby's name, sex and date of birth
• the full version which also includes the place of birth, parents' names, jobs and addresses

Both types of certificate cost £12.50 each.

A4 card keepsake wallets: £2.50 each

Birth certificates will be given to you in a plain envelope, but you can buy an A4 card keepsake wallet for them instead. They cost £2.50 each.   

Caption: A4 card keepsake wallet front cover, 22cm wide by 30cm tall.
 

What you will need

You will need to bring:

• proof of identity for each parent, such as passport or driving licence
• credit or debit card to buy birth certificates (£12.50 each) if you want to

Other proof of identity we accept

We will accept one of the following:   

• photo ID such as passport, driving licence, biometric residence permit, or permanent residence card
• birth certificate along with proof of address, such as utility bill, council tax bill, or bank statement

At your appointment you will also be asked for:

• the baby’s full name, sex, place and date of birth
• the parents full names, place and date of birth
• the mother’s maiden surname (if she has one)
• the parents' addresses and jobs
• the date of the parents’ marriage or civil partnership (if applicable)

What we do with your information

The council has a statutory duty to register births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships and to administer citizenship services on behalf of the Home Office. Your information will only be used to help us with your registration appointment, your ceremony or your application for copy certificates. We will not share this information with anyone else unless we are required to by law. Read more about how we process your personal data in our privacy policy.

Who can register a birth

The rules about who should come to the appointment depend on your marital status.

Parents are married or in a civil partnership

If the baby's parents are married or in a civil partnership with each other:

• the mother can register the birth alone
• the father or second parent can register the birth alone
• both parents can register the birth together

Parents are not married or in a civil partnership

If the baby's parents are not married or in a civil partnership with each other:

• both parents must register the birth together for both be included on the birth certificate
• the mother can register the birth alone (but the father or second parent will not be included on the birth certificate)

Single parents

The birth mother of the baby can register the birth by herself.