In Scotland, a birth can be registered by:
- either parent, if the parents are married or in a civil partnership
- only the mother, if the parents are not married or in a civil partnership
If the parents are married or in a civil partnership
Either parent can register the birth. Both parents’ details may be recorded on the birth entry.
If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership
There’s a specific process to follow.
If both parents register the birth together, you can record both parent’s details on the birth entry. They can do this either:
The birth mother will have to confirm the other person is the child’s parent, when registering the birth.
Adding the other parent if the parents are unmarried
If the other parent is unable to jointly register the birth with the child’s birth mother, both parents should:
- complete the following declaration forms before registering the birth
- submit them to the registrar during the registration
The forms you complete depends on who’s going to register the birth.
Forms you should complete
If the birth mother is going to register the birth alone
For the father/parent’s details to be included on the birth entry, complete and submit these forms to the registrar at the time of registration:
If the other parent is going to register the birth without the mother
For the father/parent’s details to be included on the birth entry, complete and submit these forms to the registrar at the time of registration:
If you do not complete these forms, the father/parent’s details can still be recorded on the birth entry at the time of registration. This only happens if the birth mother:
- acquires a Court decree declaring that person to be the father/parent of the child
- presents the decree to the registrar during registration
Child born as a result of assisted reproduction
If the parents are married or in a civil partnership
Either parent can register the birth and record both parents’ details if they:
- were married or in a civil partnership when treatment took place
- both consented to the treatment
The treatment may have taken place in the UK or abroad, and does not need to have been carried out in a licensed clinic.
If the parents are not married or in a civil partnership
The birth mother should register the birth if the parents:
- are not married or in a civil partnership
- got married or entered a civil partnership after treatment
The other parent can be recorded in the birth entry if:
- both parents jointly register
- a parenthood agreement was in place before treatment took place
- the treatment took place under license in the UK
Surrogacy
If your child was born to a surrogate contact the registration office or NRS for information as to how to register the birth.
