Registrars

 

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING BEFORE YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO REGISTER YOUR BABY

THE PROCESS FOR REGISTERING YOUR BABY HAS CHANGED – it is now a 2 stage process.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of 4 January 2021 further national restrictions will come into force from 00:01 6 January 2021 in England.  
 

Register Office

As an essential public service, Birth registrations, will continue to be offered as individuals traveling/gathering for these purposes is considered acceptable in order to fulfill a legal obligation
 

Making a birth registration appointment

Booking an appointment to register a birth during Covid-19 pandemic.

Following lockdown measures in March, birth registration in England and Wales was temporarily suspended.  At the start of June it was announced that birth registrations could resume where it is safe to do so. The Registration of Birth and Deaths Regulations 1987 have been reviewed and updated to remove the requirement for the particulars of a live birth to be registered by the registrar, in the presence of the informant.  This amendment allows the registrar to collect the birth registration and complete a draft registration entry by telephone. For the signing of the register the informant must attend the Register office to sign in the presence of the Registrar.

There will inevitably be unprecedented demand for appointments so we ask parents to be patient.   Please do not email the Register Office about appointment availability unless it is an emergency.

It is important that the safety of all our customers and staff is maintained once we reopen to the public and therefore only a reduced number of people can be admitted to Tameside Register Office on a daily basis in full accordance with a Health and Safety Assessment which has been carried out on the premises. 

Currently we are unable to attest declarations for other registration districts. If your child was born outside Tameside you will need to contact the register office for the district in which your child was born to arrange to register. If you attend an appointment and your child was not born in Tameside you will not be seen.

Birth registration will be a two stage process.  Before we can start the birth registration process you first must book an appointment for stage one in order that a Registrar can contact you to take the initial birth details:
 

Stage One: 

Initial telephone call If parents are married or in a civil partnership  call 0161 342 5032 (press option to speak to an agent)

If parents are not married or in a civil partnership but living in the same household (both must be present at the telephone call)  call 0161 342 5032 (press option to speak to an agent)

If parents are not married and living in separate households please call ONLY 0161 342 5032.

 A Registrar will undertake a telephone call to take the initial birth details

After the birth particulars have been taken you will be given a date and time to attend Tameside Register office to check and sign the draft entry

Birth registration will be a two stage process.  Before we can start the birth registration process you first must book an appointment for stage one in order that a Registrar can contact you to take the initial birth details: You will receive a receipt of your booking – this is a receipt of your telephone consultation only
 

DO NOT ATTEND THE REGISTER OFFICE AT THIS STAGE

Stage Two: Attendance at the Register office to check and sign the register

An appointment will be made for you to attend Tameside Register office to check and sign the birth register entry. It is important supporting documentation is provided,  eg, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate/civil partnership schedule where applicable before commencing  with the register checking and signing process.

Attending an appointment

• Please read all of the following important instructions before attending your appointment: YOU MUST NOT ATTEND TAMESIDE REGISTER OFFICE IF YOU HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 OR IF YOU ARE DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19.
• Only the person/people essential for the registration are permitted to attend the appointment:-  If you are married or in a civil partnership only one parent must attend.
• If you are not married or in a civil partnership both should attend. 
• Anybody attending who is not required for the registration will not be admitted.
• You must not bring the baby or any other children to the appointment unless there is absolutely no alternative.
• You should not bring any prams or pushchairs to the appointment. 
• All customers will be required to observe social distancing measures in and around Dukinfield Town Hall
• Only card payments will be accepted. We cannot take cash at this time.
• You must arrive on time for your appointment. If you arrive late (even slightly) you will need to book another appointment. If you arrive early you will need to wait outside until your appointment time. You will not be able to wait inside the building.
• You will be required to use hand sanitiser at various times during your visit to Dukinfield Town Hall.                                                                                                              

Weddings and Civil Partnerships 

Wedding Ceremonies and Civil Partnerships National Lockdown

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of 4 January further national restrictions will come into force from 00:01 6 January in England. Stay at Home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) guidance
 
The regulations which cover the national restrictions will provide for people to meet with others from outside their household for the purpose of marriages and civil partnerships but these must only take place with a maximum of 6 attendees and where these can be delivered safely in COVID-19 secure venues. This includes those where a Registrar General’s licence has been issued which can take place in private dwellings or other settings such as hospices and hospitals where safe to do so.
 
Whilst the legal position is that marriages and civil partnerships can continue to take place (subject to the limits on numbers) Government Guidance says that they should only take place in exceptional circumstances. The maximum number of 6 that are allowed to attend includes the couple, witnesses and guests, but those working, such as registration officials and venue managers are not included.
 
Tameside Register Office will deliver ceremonies in line with the Government’s recommendation that ceremonies should only take place in exceptional circumstances with a maximum of 4 at the Register office (owing to size of room) and 6 at an Approved Premise in a COVID-19 secure venue.
 
Examples of exceptional circumstances are as follows:

• One of the applicants or close relative such as parent has been told that they have limited life expectancy; where one of the applicants is pregnant; moving abroad; going into army, undergoing debilitating treatment or life changing surgery.

 
We will consider all requests on their own merits and in the prevailing circumstances.
 
The  Police have enforcement options for leaving home and gatherings and where there are no exceptions and if the number of attendees exceed the numbers allowed within the exception they may take such action as is necessary to enforce any restrictions imposed by the regulations.
 
If you break the rules - The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings, which includes more than the maximum number for a wedding and issuing fines (fixed penalty notices).
 
This also means you must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble. No exemptions are given to celebrate marriages or civil partnerships.
 
You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.
 
Keeping you and your friends and family safe - Please remember when meeting friends and family to attend a wedding - you should also follow guidance on social distancing and letting in fresh air

 
Notices of Marriage and Civil Partnerships

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of 4 January 2021 further national restrictions will come into force from 00:01 6 January 2021 in England. 

Register Office
As an essential public service, Notice appointments will continue to be offered as individuals traveling/gathering for these purposes is considered acceptable in order to fulfill a legal obligation

We are taking enquires regarding notice appointment and will be making appointments in the first instance where notices are time critical i.e. ceremonies are due to take place within the next 6-8 weeks.  If you have any specific questions relating to a pre-booked ceremony and you have not given notice email tameside.registrars@tameside.gov.uk providing you name, contact telephone number and date of ceremony.  Please note evidence of your ceremony booking will be required.

Citizenship Ceremonies

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of 4 January 2021 further national restrictions will come into force from 00:01 6 January 2021 in England. 
There is no change to the guidance and ceremonies will continue to be delivered.

From 14th July Local Authorities are now able to reintroduce citizenship ceremonies where they can do so safely in accordance with health and safety guidance.
 The time available for customers to book a ceremony has already been extended from the normal three month period, with the introduction of a six month extension from the start of the lockdown date (23rd March), so that no individual is impacted by the delay.
Week commencing 20th July the Home Office issued 5 outstanding certificates to Tameside Register office and citizens have received a ceremony. The Home Office are clearing further cases in date order unless there are exceptional circumstances to prioritise a case.  Upon receipt of the certificates citizens will be contacted in order to attend a citizenship ceremony to be presented with their naturalisation certificate.  If you require any further information please contact Tameside Register office on 0161 342 5032.