2026 No. 1172
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES, ETC., ENGLAND AND WALES
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Made
4th November 2026
Coming into force
9th November 2026
The Registrar General for England and Wales makes these Regulations, with the approval of the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1(1), 3A(2), 5, 7(1), 9(1) and (2), 10(1) (b) to (g) and (1B) (b) to (f), 10A(1) (b) to (f) and (1B) (b) to (f), 11(1)(b), 12, 14(1), 14A(1), 15, 23(2), (2A), (2B), (2C), (3) and (4), 23A(1) and (3), 26(1), 29(2), 33(2), 33A(2), and 39 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 as extended by section 26 (2) and (3) of the Welsh Language Act 1993, and section 5(2) of the Foundling Hospital Act 1953.
(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 9th November 2026.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.
In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), in the appropriate places, insert the following definitions—
“appropriate registration officer” has the meaning given in section 29(5) of the Act;
“relevant registration officer” has the meaning given in section 13(2A) of the Act.
.
(1) Regulation 6 (registration in more than one place) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2)(a)—
(a) for “write”, substitute “enter”;
(b) after “original” insert “, as applicable,”.
(3) In paragraph (3), substitute—
(3) Where a birth or death is re-registered on the authority of the Registrar General—
(a) the registrar making the new entry, and
(b) the appropriate registration officer for the register in which the birth or death was registered,
shall make such notes in the margin of the respective entries as the Registrar General may authorise (if any).
.
(1) Regulation 9 (entry of particulars on registration) is amended as follows.
(2) For the heading, substitute “Particulars for birth registration”.
(3) In paragraph (1)—
(a) after “register the birth”, insert “, if not previously registered,”;
(b) after “and”, insert “enter”;
(c) for “, if not previously registered, on form 1, entering the particulars required in spaces 1 to 13”, substitute “into the register”.
(4) In paragraph (4)(a), after “their name”, in each place it occurs, insert “and surname”.
(5) In paragraph (7)(b), for “name”, in both places it occurs, substitute “surname”.
(6) Omit paragraph (10).
(1) Regulation 10 (completion of registration) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1)—
(a) for “call upon the following persons to sign the entry”, substitute “enter the name and surname of each of the following persons”;
(b) for “signature”, in each place it occurs, substitute “name and surname,”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (c), for “following persons shall sign the entry”, substitute “name and surname of each of the following persons shall be entered”;
(d) in sub-paragraph (d)—
(i) omit “the person making the request shall sign the entry in space 14, in which case”;
(ii) for “his signature”, substitute “the name and surname of the person making the request,”.
(3) In paragraph (2), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
(1) Regulation 13 (declaration and registration under section 9 of the Act) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (a), after “approved form”, insert “or an approved electronic form”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (b), after “sign the declaration”, insert “, either by written or electronic signature”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (c), after “himself”, insert “, either by written or electronic signature”.
(3) In paragraph (3)—
(a) for sub-paragraph (a) substitute—
(a) that officer shall then—
(i) where the declaration is in an approved electronic form, delete the incorrect particulars and insert the correct particulars;
(ii) otherwise, strike out any incorrect particulars and insert the correct particulars;
.
(b) in sub-paragraph (b), for “amendment so made shall be initialed by the declarant, and the”, substitute “amended”.
(4) In paragraph (4)(a), omit “, omitting any incorrect particular which has been struck out and the initials of the declarant”.
(5) In paragraph (5), for “sign the entry”, in both places it occurs, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
In regulation 14(2) (alteration or giving of name after registration), for “registrar or superintendent registrar having custody of the register in which the birth is entered”, substitute “relevant registration officer for the register in which the birth is entered,”.
(1) Regulation 17 (re-registration of birth) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter their names and surnames”.
(3) In paragraph (2A), for the words before sub-paragraph (i), substitute “Where a mother or father provide the particulars separately, the registrar shall, after their name and surname—”.
(4) In paragraph (3), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter their names and surnames”.
(5) In paragraph (4)—
(a) for the words before sub-paragraph (i), substitute “Where a mother or other parent provide the particulars separately, the registrar shall, after their name and surname—”;
(b) in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii), after “name”, insert “and surname”.
(6) In paragraph (6), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
(7) In paragraph (7)(b), after “attest the statement”, insert “, either by written or electronic signature,”.
(8) In paragraph (9)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (b) after “name”, insert “and surname”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (d) for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
In regulation 18 (noting of previous entry), for “registrar or superintendent registrar who has custody of the register in which the birth was previously registered”, substitute “appropriate registration officer for the register in which the birth is entered,”.
(1) Regulation 19 (attendance and particulars on re-registration) is amended as follows.
(2) For the heading, substitute “Particulars on re-registration”.
(3) In paragraph (a)—
(a) for “shall”, substitute “may”;
(b) after “relevant registrar”, insert “, or may give the particulars on an approved electronic form”.
(1) Regulation 20 (re-registration where mother, father or other parent attends) is amended as follows.
(2) In the heading, for “attends”, substitute “provides particulars”.
(3) For “attend at the office of the relevant registrar”, substitute “provide the particulars”.
(4) In paragraph (b), for “to sign the entry”, substitute “enter their name and surname”.
(5) In paragraph (d), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
(1) Regulation 21 (making of declaration where parent does not attend) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraphs (2) and (4)—
(a) after “signing”, insert “, either by written or electronic signature,”;
(b) after “approved form”, insert “or an approved electronic form”.
(3) In paragraph (3), after “made”, insert “, either by written or electronic signature”.
(1) Regulation 22 (re-registration in pursuance of declaration) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (c), after “name”, insert “and surname”.
(3) In paragraph (d), for “regulation 20(3)(c) and (d)” substitute “regulation 20(c) and (d)”.
In regulation 24 (noting of previous entry), for “superintendent registrar or registrar having custody of”, substitute “appropriate registration officer for,”.
(1) Regulation 25 (certified copies of re-registered entries) is amended as follows.
(2) In the words before paragraph (a)—
(a) for “superintendent registrar or registrar”, substitute “appropriate registration officer”;
(b) omit “in a register in his custody”.
(1) Regulation 26A (particulars on re-registration) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (c), for “draw”, substitute “enter”.
(3) In paragraph (d), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
In regulation 26B (noting of previous entry), for “superintendent registrar or registrar having custody of”, substitute “appropriate registration officer for”.
(1) Regulation 27 (marking of birth entry of adopted child) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1)(b), for “strike through any marking as to adoption in the margin of the entry specified in the direction and underneath write”, substitute “note the margin of the entry with”.
(3) In the words after sub-paragraph (b)—
(a) for “striking through the”, substitute “making the additional”;
(b) for “signature”, substitute “name and surname”.
In regulation 28(c) (reproduction of marking in certified copy), for “the marking has not been struck through”, substitute “there is no additional marking”.
In regulation 30 (noting of previous entry), for “superintendent registrar or registrar having custody of”, substitute “appropriate registration officer for”.
(1) Regulation 34A (declaration and registration of a still-birth under section 9 of the Act) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2)—
(a) omit “an”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (a), after “approved form” insert “or approved electronic form 2B”;
(c) at the end of sub-paragraph (b), insert “, either by written or electronic signature”;
(d) in sub-paragraph (c), after “himself” insert “, either by written or electronic signature”.
(3) In paragraph (3)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (a)—
(i) omit “in the presence of the declarant” and “by striking out any incorrect particulars”;
(ii) for “inserting”, substitute “insert”.
(b) in sub-paragraph (b), for “amendment so made shall be initialled by the declarant and the”, substitute “amended”.
(4) In paragraph (4)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (a) and (b)(ii) in both places it appears, omit “, omitting any incorrect particular which has been struck out and the initials of the declarant”.
(b) in sub-paragraph (c)(i), after “name”, insert “and surname”.
(c) in sub-paragraph (e), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
In regulation 35(1) (registration on coroner’s notification where no inquest is held), omit “in the presence of a qualified informant” and insert “as provided by the qualified informant” at the end.
(1) Regulation 36 (registration on coroner’s certificate after inquest) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1)(d), for “draw” substitute “enter”.
(3) In paragraph (1)(f), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
(1) Regulation 37 (noting of previous entry after coroner’s certificate after inquest) is amended as follows.
(2) In the words before paragraph (a), for “registrar”, substitute “appropriate registration officer”.
(3) In paragraph (a), for “in his custody, write”, substitute “, enter”.
(4) In paragraph (b)—
(a) for “in his custody, write”, substitute “, enter”;
(b) after “at entry” insert “, as applicable”.
(5) In paragraph (c)—
(a) for “write”, substitute “enter”;
(b) after “the words”, insert “, as applicable”;
(6) In paragraph (d) substitute “if the previous entry is in a still-birth register kept by the Registrar General, he shall provide the details of the new entry together with particulars of the previous entry to the Registrar General.”.
(1) Regulation 42 (registration where no report to coroner) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1A), omit “in the presence of the informant”.
(3) Omit paragraph (6).
(4) In paragraph (7)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (a), substitute “enter the informant’s name and surname in space 8”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (c), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
(1) Regulation 42A (declaration and registration under section 23A of the Act) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (a)—
(i) omit “an”;
(ii) after “approved form”, insert “or approved electronic form 2A”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (b), after “declaration” insert “, either by written or electronic signature”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (c), after “himself” insert “, either by written or electronic signature”.
(3) In paragraph (3)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (a)—
(i) omit “by striking out any incorrect particulars”;
(ii) for “inserting”, substitute “insert”.
(b) in sub-paragraph (b), for “amendment so made shall be initialled by the declarant and the”, substitute “amended”.
(4) In paragraph (4)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (a), omit “, omitting any incorrect particular which has been struck out and the initials of the declarant”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (c), after “enter the name”, insert “and surname”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (e), for “sign the entry”, substitute, “enter his name and surname”.
In regulation 43A(3)(b) (registration where a coroner’s certificate is provided to the registrar on request by the registrar), for “draw”, substitute “enter”.
(1) Regulation 44 (noting of existing entry on coroner’s notification of cause of death) is amended as follows.
(2) In the words before paragraph (a)—
(a) for “registrar”, substitute “relevant registration officer”;
(b) for “he has”, substitute “is”;
(c) for the words from “—” to the end substitute “he shall, without altering the entry in space [9]2 of form 13, enter in its margin the words [“Inquest discontinued under section 4 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 by.. ..”], inserting the name, surname and description of the coroner, followed by the words “and cause of death disclosed as …”, inserting the cause of death as certified by the coroner”.
(1) Regulation 45 (registration after inquest, or after an investigation by the coroner is suspended) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (c), for “draw”, substitute “enter”.
(3) In paragraph (e), for “sign the entry”, substitute “enter his name and surname”.
In regulation 46 (noting of previous entry on registration after inquest) for the words from “—” to the end substitute “the appropriate registration officer shall, without altering that entry, enter in its margin the words “Re-registered on coroner’s certificate at entry No … … … ...”, inserting the number of the new entry.”.
(1) Regulation 53 (time when entry is complete) is amended as follows.
(2) Omit “of a birth or death”.
(3) For “signed”, substitute “entered his name and surname in”.
(4) For “and”, substitute “, ”.
(5) Insert “and submitted it into the register” at the end of the regulation.