The death of a baby during pregnancy or soon after birth is a difficult time. We acknowledge the emotional hardship you face during this time.
Stillbirth
A baby is stillborn if he or she died after having been carried in the womb for 20 weeks or more, or weighing over 400 grams. Your medical practitioner determines this.
While we acknowledge the emotional hardship you're facing, the law requires you to register the birth. There's no fee to do this.
In registering the birth, your child will be remembered in Victoria's records. It also gives you the option to order a birth certificate in their memory. (Certificates are marked as stillborn.)
Find out what you need to do to register your baby.
Loss of a newborn
If your baby died soon after being born, you will need to register the birth. A funeral director can register the death for you. The funeral director can also apply on your behalf for a death certificate, if you need one.
In registering the birth, your child will be remembered in Victoria's records. It also gives you the option to order a birth certificate in their memory. (Certificates are marked as deceased.)
Find out what you need to do to register your baby.
Early pregnancy loss
You can commemorate an early pregnancy loss with a recognition of early pregnancy loss certificate.
It recognises a loss before 20 weeks, or if weeks are unknown, the baby weighed less than 400 grams. The certificate is free.
The certificate will show:
- Baby’s name. If you don’t wish to choose a name, the certificate can show 'baby of'
- You and your partner’s names
- Date and place of loss.
Some details in the application form are mandatory. We understand that due to the circumstances of pregnancy loss, you may not be able to provide all of the other details, but please include as many as you can to assist the application.
View the Early Pregnancy Loss commemorative certificate.
The early pregnancy loss certificate is not a legal document.
You may apply at any time. There’s no time limit. You can apply if:
- Your loss took place in Victoria
- The miscarriage was at less than 20 weeks, or if unknown, your baby weighed less than 400g.
How to apply
To apply for an early pregnancy loss certificate:
- Fill in a Recognition of early pregnancy loss application
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Make a digital copy of a document (e.g. utility bill, bank statement) that shows your current residential address. We accept scans or digital photographs
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Email your completed form AND the document that shows your current residential address to bdmearlyloss@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
You must send both your application and a document showing your residential address so that we can complete your application
Postage
Postage within Australia via standard post and International via economy post is FREE of charge
Processing times
The turnaround time for the Early Pregnancy commemorative certificate is 28 days (plus postage time). Our processing times start when we receive all your completed documents.