Houghtons Funeral Directors · 01925 729998 (24 hours)

Registering a stillbirth or a baby's death: England and Wales

What you need to do depends on whether your baby was born alive, was stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy, or was lost before 24 weeks. Here is how each works in England and Wales, in plain words. We will never charge for our services, and we will guide you through every step.

No charge For babies under 24 weeks and children up to 17

Gentle support

There is no right or wrong way to feel, and no need to rush. The legal side is small compared with everything else you are facing, and the people around you will help you through it. Your hospital, midwife or doctor will usually explain the paperwork too.

Whatever the circumstances, your baby mattered, and you can have a farewell that feels right for your family. Call us at any time on 01925 729998 and we will talk it through.

Which situation is yours?

In England and Wales the law treats these three situations differently. 24 weeks of pregnancy is the dividing line.

  • Born alive: A baby who showed any sign of life at any stage of pregnancy and then died. The birth and the death are both registered.
  • Stillborn after 24 weeks: A baby born with no sign of life after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy. A stillbirth is registered within 42 days.
  • Before 24 weeks: A baby born with no sign of life before 24 completed weeks. This is sometimes described as non-viable. There is no legal registration, but you can still hold a funeral.

If your baby was born alive and then died

This applies at any stage of pregnancy, however short your baby's life was. Both the birth and the death are registered.

  1. The doctor or midwife gives you paperwork. A doctor or midwife confirms the death and completes a medical certificate of the cause of death. Your hospital will tell you what happens next.
  2. The medical examiner checks. As with every death in England and Wales, a medical examiner reviews the cause of death. Their office may contact you, and speaking to them is voluntary. In some cases the coroner becomes involved instead, and will tell the registrar when registration can go ahead.
  3. Register the birth and the death. You register at a register office, normally the one for the area where your baby was born or died. Aim to register the death within 5 days of being told you can, including weekends and bank holidays. The registrar will do both entries with you.
  4. Collect the paperwork. The registrar issues the certificate for burial or cremation, often called the green form, and certified copies of the entries if you want them. The green form comes to us and we deal with the cemetery or crematorium for you.

If your baby was stillborn after 24 weeks

A baby born with no sign of life after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy is registered as a stillbirth. A stillbirth is registered, but it is not recorded as a death, so you will not receive a death certificate. If your baby was stillborn, you can still hold a funeral, with a burial or cremation, and you can choose a name for your baby.

  1. The doctor or midwife gives you a certificate. A doctor or midwife who was there at the birth, or who examined your baby, gives you a medical certificate of stillbirth. Keep it safe, because the registrar needs it.
  2. Register within 42 days. A stillbirth should normally be registered within 42 days of your baby’s birth. The doctor or midwife will arrange for the Medical Certificate of Stillbirth to be sent to the register office. The registrar will ask for your baby’s details and information about the parents. Giving your baby a name is your choice; if you wish, the registrar can include it in the register. From 9 November 2026, registration services in England and Wales can offer telephone appointments for stillbirths, alongside in-person appointments. Availability and eligibility depend on the local registration service. The registrar will confirm your appointment arrangements and explain what documents are needed. If you are worried about meeting the 42-day timescale, contact the register office as early as you can so they can advise and support you.
  3. Collect the paperwork. The registrar will give you a certificate of registration of stillbirth, and the paperwork the cemetery or crematorium needs before a burial or cremation can take place. Please bring this to us, or ask the registrar to send it, and we will deal with the rest.
  4. Children's Funeral Fund. The Children's Funeral Fund for England meets the burial and cremation fees for a baby stillborn after 24 weeks. It is not means tested. The cemetery or crematorium claims it directly.

If your baby was lost before 24 weeks

When a baby is born with no signs of life before 24 completed weeks, in England and Wales this is not a stillbirth in law. It is sometimes described as a non-viable pregnancy, or an early loss. It is not registered, and there is no register entry or legal certificate that has to be completed.

You are still your baby's parents, and you can still hold a funeral, a cremation or a burial. We are very happy to help, and we do not charge for our services. Your hospital will usually give you a form or letter confirming the loss, which they or we can pass to the crematorium or cemetery. We will tell you what is needed.

In England you can also ask for a voluntary Baby Loss Certificate, which formally acknowledges your loss. If you live in Wales, please ask your midwife or hospital what is available.

If a pregnancy was ended by choice or for medical reasons

People end a pregnancy for many different reasons, and every one of them is personal. You will not be judged here. If you would like a funeral, or simply a quiet cremation or burial, for a baby from a termination of pregnancy, we will help you, and we will be gentle and discreet.

As with other losses before 24 weeks, there is no legal registration. You can choose a full funeral service, a short private farewell, a simple cremation or burial with nobody attending, or you can leave the arrangements to us. You do not have to explain your circumstances to us.

Please tell the hospital or clinic that you would like a funeral, a cremation or a burial before anything is arranged, so that they can talk through the options and pass on the right paperwork. If you are not sure what to ask, call us and we will help you work it out. Your conversation with us is private, and we do not charge for our services.

From 9 November 2026: register by telephone or in person

From 9 November 2026, registration services in England and Wales can offer telephone appointments for stillbirths, alongside in-person appointments. Availability and eligibility depend on the local registration service, and the registrar will confirm your appointment arrangements. This also applies to registering a baby's death. Anyone who prefers or needs a face-to-face appointment can still have one.

A telephone appointment is not quicker than an in-person one, so choose whichever suits you best. The 42 days for a stillbirth, and the 5 days for a death, stay the same. If you are unsure how to book or what to bring, ring any of our offices (our main office is 01925 729998) and we will help.

Who can register, and what to take

Usually the baby's mother registers. Married parents or parents in a civil partnership can normally register too. If the parents are not married, the father can be named in the register if both parents attend, or if the mother gives consent in the way the registrar explains.

Take the medical certificate that the hospital gave you. It also helps to take photo ID, and any details of your own, such as your address, date and place of birth. If you aren't sure, call the register office or call us. The registrar will tell you before the appointment if anything else is needed.

How Houghtons help

You do not have to manage this alone. We can speak to the hospital, the registrar and the crematorium or cemetery on your behalf.

  • No charge: We do not charge for our services for babies under 24 weeks or children up to 17 years. Our own infant coffin is included.
  • At your pace: Whenever you are ready, we will talk through your wishes, including time with your baby, who you want there and the kind of farewell you would like.
  • The paperwork: We liaise with the hospital, the registrar, the cemetery or crematorium, and the coroner's office if needed, and keep you informed.
  • Support afterwards: We can point you to organisations such as Sands, who support families after the loss of a baby.

Frequently asked questions

Does a baby lost before 24 weeks have to be registered?

No. In England and Wales a baby born without signs of life before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy is not legally registered, and there is no legal paperwork to complete. You can still hold a funeral, and in England you can ask for a voluntary Baby Loss Certificate.

Can we have a funeral, cremation or burial after a termination of pregnancy?

Yes. Whatever the reason a pregnancy was ended, you can ask for a funeral, or just a simple cremation or burial. Please tell the hospital or clinic that you would like this, and call us on 01925 729998. We will help, in confidence and without judgement, and we do not charge for our services.

Can we register a stillbirth by telephone?

From 9 November 2026, registration services in England and Wales can offer telephone appointments for stillbirths, alongside in-person appointments. Availability and eligibility depend on the local registration service, and the registrar will confirm your arrangements. A telephone appointment is not quicker than an in-person one, so choose whichever suits you best. The 42-day limit has not changed. If you would like help with booking, ring us on 01925 729998.

How long do we have to register a stillbirth?

In England and Wales a stillbirth, where a baby is born with no signs of life after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy, must be registered within 42 days of the birth. The doctor or midwife gives you a medical certificate of stillbirth to take to the registrar. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules.

How long do we have to register a baby who was born alive and then died?

The birth and the death are both registered. The death should be registered within 5 days, in the same way as any other death in England and Wales. If you need longer, tell the register office straight away.

Do we need to register before we call Houghtons?

No. Please call us whenever you are ready, day or night, on 01925 729998. We can start planning with you straight away. The funeral can follow once the paperwork, where it is needed, has been completed.

Who can register the loss of a baby?

Usually the baby's mother. A father who is married to the mother, or in a civil partnership with her, can usually register too. If the parents are not married, the father can be named in the register if both parents attend. The registrar will explain who can register in your situation.

Will we have to pay for the funeral?

Houghtons do not charge for our services for babies under 24 weeks or children up to 17 years. The Children's Funeral Fund in England meets the burial and cremation fees for children under 18 and for babies stillborn after 24 weeks.