Births

In Scotland, you must register your baby’s birth within 21 days. You can now do this conveniently over the phone. If you prefer an in-person appointment, just let us know, and we’ll arrange it for you.

• If you’re married or in a registered civil partnership, only one parent needs to register.
• If you’re not married or in a civil partnership, and you want both parents’ names on the certificate, both must be present during the call.
• A mother not in a marriage or civil partnership can register alone if the father's name is not to be included.

Please have these ready:

• The birth notification card from the hospital or midwife.
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate, if applicable.

You should email a scanned or photocopy of these documents to the relevant office after booking your appointment.

You can register the birth remotely through one of our offices. Contact details are below, and you can call us Monday to Friday, 10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm.

• Airdrie: Tel: 01236 758080, email: registrars-airdrie@northlan.gov.uk
• Cumbernauld: Tel: 01236 632740, email: registrars-cumbernauld@northlan.gov.uk
• Motherwell: Tel: 01698 302206, email: registrars-motherwell@northlan.gov.uk

Before your appointment, email your supporting documents referred to above to the chosen office, including your booking name, date, and time in the email subject.

The Registrar will call you at your scheduled time. The call should last about 30 minutes. Please note our number will show as an 0845 call.

You will receive the following documents by post:

• Abbreviated Birth Extract: Free, shows baby’s full name, date, and place of birth (useful for child benefit applications).
• EC58 Form: Needed for registering with your GP.

A full birth certificate which includes the parents’ names can be purchased at the time of the appointment for £10 plus postage (needed for school, nursery, and passport applications).

Here’s a quick guide to financial support available:

• Scottish Child Payment: £26.70 per week for low-income families with children under 16. Call 0800 182 2222 or visit the Scottish Government website.
• Child Benefit: Payment of £25.60 per week for the first child, and £16.95 for each additional child. Visit the UK Government website for more details: https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit
• Best Start Grants: Available from pregnancy to starting school for low-income families. Visit the Scottish Government website for more information: https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-security/best-start-grant/.

Our Tackling Poverty team is here to assist. Contact us at 01698 332551 or tpteam@northlan.gov.uk for more information on financial benefits and support.