Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

COVID-19 UPDATE:

The registration of a Birth remains strictly by appointment only.

The registration of a Death is completed by telephone only.

To arrange registration for a Birth or Death please telephone 0330 137 4041.

Births

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Council registration offices are open to the public on an appointment only basis for birth registration services. 

Please email your application form to registration@nmandd.org and we will call you to make an appointment.

Application forms are available from: www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

As we adjust to new ways of working, and to ensure that social distancing measures remain in place at all registration offices, there may be longer delays in obtaining an appointment to register a birth.

If you are unable to get an appointment within 42 days you will still be able to register your baby as a patient with your GP practice, without a birth certificate, and apply for benefits.

Why do I have to Register my Child's Birth?

If you or your partner have recently had a baby, you will need to register the birth. By law, your baby's birth must be registered within 42 days of the date of birth. You will also need proof of your child's birth for various purposes, for example, to claim child benefit, to register your baby with a doctor, obtain a passport, or start school.

Who Can Register A Birth?

The following people can register a child's birth:

• The mother or father of the baby – if you are a married couple.  In the case of a child born outside marriage, the name of the father can only be recorded in the entry of birth if both parents are in attendance and sign the registration together.  If either parent is unavailable, you should speak to the Registrar before registering the birth.  Further information on unmarried fathers is available from the birth registration form.
• Maternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, maternal aunt or maternal uncle of the baby who has knowledge of the birth.
• The occupier of the premises where the baby was born.
• Any person present at the birth.
• Any person having charge of the child.

A birth can also be registered to two female parents under certain circumstances.  For further information, we advise you to call a member of the Registration staff.

Where can the birth be Registered?

In any Registration Office in Northern Ireland, provided the baby was born in Northern Ireland.

What Do You Receive When You Register?

Once the registration has been completed, a member of the Registration staff will issue the following:

• One free short birth certificate.
• HS123 Infant Registration Form to register the baby with the Doctor to obtain a medical card

Additional certified copies of Short or Full Birth Certificates may be purchased at a cost of £8 each at the time of registration. If you require a further birth certificate after registration, you may purchase from the General Register Office.

Ordering A Certified Copy Of A Birth Certificate After The Time Of Registration

Certified copies of all births registered in Northern Ireland may only be obtained from:

General Register Office, NISRA, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast, BT9 5RR.
Telephone the General Register Office – 0300 200 7890 (ringing from within N Ireland/UK) or + 44300 200 7890 (ringing from outside N Ireland/UK) and paying by debit/credit card.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro (Certificates can be ordered on line)

More Information

The General Register Office, NISRA, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast, BT9 5RR, provides help and advice about the following issues:

• Re-registration of a birth, for example, if you want to add the father’s name after the initial registration.
• Recording name changes.

Detailed information about these topics is available from http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

Deaths

The registration of a death is currently completed by telephone only.

The Registrar will contact the next of kin or the Funeral Director to register the death over the telephone when notified by the certifying Doctor.

The Medical Cause of Death Certificate signed by the doctor, showing the cause of death will be issued electronically to the Registration staff. If the deceased had not been seen by a doctor within the last 28 days or where the death was not caused by natural illness, this death would have to be referred to the Coroner for further investigation.

COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance for handling the infection risks when caring for the deceased and managing funerals (with effect from 12 April 2021) click here

Coronavirus guidance surrounding places of worship (COVID-19): click here

Registering A Death

By law, all deaths occurring in Northern Ireland must be registered no later than five days from when the death occurred, except where the matter has been referred to the Coroner.

How To Register A Death?

If you wish to complete the application form to register a death, they are available to download from:   Death Registration and from the Registration offices.  You should complete the GRO 73 form and email to:  registration@nmandd.org  Registration staff will contact you to progress the registration of the death.

Details Required To Register A Death

• The deceased person’s full name, surname and address
• Their date and place of death (and birth)
• Their marital status
• Their occupation
• The full name and occupation of the deceased person’s spouse or partner (if they were married, in a civil partnership or widowed)
• Maiden surname (if the deceased person was a married woman)
• The full names of the deceased person’s father and mother, mother’s maiden name and their occupations
• The name and practice address of the deceased person’s doctor.

Who Can Register A Death

• Any relative of the deceased person who knows the information needed for registration.
• A person present at the death.
• A person taking care of the funeral arrangements.
• The executor or administrator of the deceased person’s estate.
• The governor, matron or chief officer of a public building where the death occurred.
• A person living in and responsible for a house, lodgings or apartments where the death occurred.
• A person finding or taking charge of the body

It is free to register a death. When you register you will receive:

• GRO21 form which allows a burial or cremation to take place
• Form 36 (Certificate of Registration of Death) for Social Security purposes if the deceased person received state pension or benefits
• Any short or full certified death certificates you may purchase at a fee of £8 per certificate. You can pay by credit/debit card, cheque or cash.

To Order A Certified Copy Of A Death Certificate After The Time Of Registration

Certified copies of all deaths registered in Northern Ireland may only be obtained from:

General Register Office, NISRA, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast, BT9 5RR

Telephone the General Register Office – 0300 200 7890 (ringing from within N Ireland/UK) or + 44300 200 7890 (ringing from outside N Ireland/UK) and paying by debit/credit card.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/registering-death (Certificates can be ordered online).

Advice and Support 

The NI Direct website has details of organisations which can provide support for bereavement: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

Marriages

MARRIAGE / CIVIL PARTNERSHIP CEREMONY RESTRICTIONS

Please be aware that your marriage/civil partnership ceremony must be conducted under the current NI Executive restrictions. 

Marriage and Civil Partnerships 

Please be aware that your marriage/civil partnership ceremony must be conducted under the current NI Executive restrictions.  

• Numbers at marriage and civil partnership ceremonies will be determined by a risk assessment carried out by the venue.  
• Face masks must be worn by all unless exempt, except the couple being married or forming a civil partnership, the registrar/officiant performing the ceremony or children aged 12 and under.
• Up to 6 people from two households (not including children) are permitted in a private dwelling therefore a marriage or civil partnership ceremony can take place if all other guests at the ceremony are from one household with the registrar/officiant being from the second household
• Can take place in a person’s home if one of the parties is terminally ill with up to 10 people in attendance (this includes the couple, two witnesses and the officiant).
• Outdoor gatherings in a private garden will be restricted to 15 people (including children) from any number of households.   
• A religious/belief officiant can carry out a marriage ceremony at any location in Northern Ireland, it does not have to be an approved venue.  It is the responsibility of the religious/belief officiant to ensure that COVID-19 restrictions are adhered to. 

Coronavirus guidance surrounding places of worship (COVID-19): click here

General information

If you plan to get married in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area it is important that you read all the information below carefully. 

Religious same sex marriage became lawful in Northern Ireland from Tuesday 1 September 2020.

Marriage Notice

You must give a minimum of 28 days’ notice to get married. If you don't give 28 days’ notice, you may need to postpone your marriage. You can give notice up to a year before the date of your marriage.

• Download marriage notice form - More Information:  www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

Religious Marriages

Religious ceremonies take place in a church, chapel or other building of worship. Services are conducted by authorised people, according to the relevant tradition.

If you are having a religious ceremony, you still need to give notice at the Registrar’s Office in the District you are getting married in.

Documents Needed to Get Married

Before you can get married, you and your partner need to complete a marriage notice form and produce essential documents.

• Download marriage notice form - More Information:  www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

The following documents must be provided by both you and your partner when returning your marriage notice forms:

• Your full (long version) birth certificate.
• Your passport or national identity card - the Registrar can advise on alternatives if you do not hold either of these.
• A consent form (if you are aged 16 or 17).
• If you have been married before and the marriage was dissolved, a certificate of divorce or annulment or a certified copy decree (decrees must be absolute or final).
• If you have entered into a civil partnership before, a court order of dissolution for that partnership.
• If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, the death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner.

All documents must be in English otherwise a translated copy must also be provided.

Please do not post original documents. Payment can be made by cheque, payable to Newry Mourne and Down District Council, or card payment by phoning 0330 137 4041.  
 
If you need any advice in relation to your wedding, please email registration@nmandd.org or telephone 0330 137 4041

Once you have given notice, we will let you know when you can collect the marriage schedule. Only the bride or groom can collect the marriage schedule and give it to the marriage officiant.

If you have decided to have your ceremony at our Registrar’s Office in either Newry or Downpatrick, or at one of our approved venues, please contact us for availability and advice.

Civil Marriages

Civil Marriage ceremonies are conducted by the Registrar and take place in the designated Office venues or in another venue which has been licensed for Marriage ceremonies. See: Approved Places for Civil Marriages.

Documents Needed to Get Married

Before you can get married, you and your partner need to complete a marriage notice form and produce essential documents.

• Download marriage notice form - More Information:  www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

The following documents must be provided by both you and your partner when returning your marriage notice forms:

• Your full (long version) birth certificate.
• Your passport or national identity card - the Registrar can advise on alternatives if you do not hold either of these.
• A consent form (if you are aged 16 or 17).
• If you have been married before and the marriage was dissolved, a certificate of divorce or annulment or a certified copy decree (decrees must be absolute or final).
• If you have entered into a civil partnership before, a court order of dissolution for that partnership.
• If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, the death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner.

All documents must be in English otherwise a translated copy must also be provided.

Email Notice forms and relevant documents to registration@nmandd.org or post notice forms and photocopied documents to the Registration Department at Newry Town Hall, Bank Parade, Newry, BT35 6HR or Downshire Civic Centre, Ardglass Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6GQ.  
 
Please do not post original documents. Payment can be made by cheque, payable to Newry Mourne and Down District Council, or card payment by phoning 033 0137 4041.  
 
If you need any advice in relation to your wedding, please email registration@nmandd.org or telephone 0330 137 4041

If you are a non-EEA citizen, please read NIDirect’s Information on getting married in Northern Ireland for further information on the requirements.

Marriage Fees 

Please call us on 0330 137 4041 or email us at registration@nmandd.org to enquire about fees for your Civil Marriage or Civil Partnership Ceremony.

Legal Requirements

To marry in Northern Ireland, you and your partner must be:

• Aged 18 or above on the day of your wedding (consent is needed if either of you is aged 16 or 17)
• Unrelated to one another in a way that would prevent you from getting married
• Free to marry, for example, neither of you is already legally married or in a civil partnership to someone.
• Capable of understanding the nature of a marriage ceremony and of consenting to the marriage.

Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Civil Partnership ceremonies are conducted by the Registrar and take place in the designated Office venues or in another venue which has been licensed for partnership ceremonies. See: Approved Places for Civil Partnerships.

A Civil Partnership is a relationship between two people, which is formed when they register as civil partners of one another. Two people can register provided:

• Neither of them is already a civil partner or is legally married.
• They are 18 or above on the day of the ceremony (consent must be obtained for those aged between 16 and 18).
• They are not related to one another in a way that would prevent them from having a civil partnership.

Booking your Civil Partnership Registration

You may make a provisional booking by telephoning the office in the district you wish to have your Civil Partnership in. This will reserve the date, time and the Registrar until official notice is given.

You do not however have to initially make a provisional booking; you may just make a definite booking by completing the following:

How and when to give official notice

Notice of Civil Partnership may be given within 12 months of the date of the Civil Partnership Ceremony. 

Documents Needed to Get Married

Before you can have a civil partnership, you and your partner need to complete a Civil Partnership notice form and produce essential documents. www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

The following documents must be provided by both you and your partner when returning your Civil Partnership notice forms:

• Your full (long version) birth certificate.
• Your passport or national identity card - the Registrar can advise on alternatives if you do not hold either of these.
• A consent form (if you are aged 16 or 17).
• If you have been married before and it was dissolved, a certificate of divorce or annulment or a certified copy decree (decrees must be absolute or final).
• If you have entered into a civil partnership before, a court order of dissolution for that partnership.
• If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, the death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner.

All documents must be in English otherwise a translated copy must also be shown.

Once completed you can email notice forms and relevant documents to registration@nmandd.org or post notice forms and photocopied documents to the Registration Department at Newry Town Hall, Bank Parade, Newry, BT35 6HR or Downshire Civic Centre, Ardglass Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6GQ.  
 
Please do not post original documents. Payment can be made by cheque, payable to Newry Mourne and Down District Council, or card payment by phoning 033 0137 4041.  
 
If you need any advice in relation to your wedding, please email registration@nmandd.org or telephone 033 0137 4041

The fees should be accompanied by the Notice Forms and all required documents.

Once the Registration Office receives the two notice forms, fees and documents, the Notice takes effect from that date. Then, the earliest possible Civil Partnership registration would be 28 days later (depending on availability and circumstances).

Essential documents to be produced

• A Full Birth Certificate (long version) showing parents details.
• Your passport or Identity card
• If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, the death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner.
• If divorced - a decree absolute or a dissolution of Civil Partnership Certificate. A decree nisi is not acceptable.
• If reverted to a maiden name - the last marriage certificate must be produced.
• If 16 or 17 years – Consent.  Consent Forms are available from the Registrar.

If you are a non-EEA citizen, please read NI Direct’s Information on have a Civil Partnership in Northern Ireland for further information on the requirements.

Additional certificates

When you register a life event such as a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership, you can buy a certificate for £8 from the Registrar only at the time of registration.

Our Registration offices in Downpatrick and Newry no longer sell additional birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificates at any time after registration.

If you require additional certificates you need to order and buy them from the General Register Office in Belfast - www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro.

General Register Office

NISRA
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
Belfast BT9 5RR

Telephone: 0300 200 7890

Contact Us

To make an appointment please contact: 

Copies of Certificates

The local Registration Offices will only be able to provide certificates of births, still births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships at the time of registering the event.  To obtain copies of certificates, you can apply:

Online: www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

By phone: 0300 200 7890 within UK & NI or +44 300 200 7890 outside NI

By post: Application forms available at any registration office

In person: The General Register Office, NISRA, Colby House, Stranmillis Court, Belfast, BT9 5RR

Family History

Unfortunately, the Registrar cannot help with genealogical enquires, but anyone who has family history questions may wish to contact the General Registrar's Office on 0300 200 7890 or log onto to www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro for further information.