The death of a baby is a difficult time. We acknowledge the emotional hardship you're facing. However, if your baby was stillborn or died soon after birth, the law requires you to register the birth.
Births must be registered within 60 days. There is no fee to register.
By 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.
When you register the birth, you don't automatically get a birth certificate. You can order a certificate at the time of registration or order one separately later.
Legal birth certificates are marked as stillborn or deceased. Commemorative birth certificates are not marked as stillborn or deceased.
We acknowledge this is a difficult time for you and those close to you. Grief support organisations may be able to help.
Stillbirth
A stillborn baby is one who died after having been carried in the womb for 20 weeks or more, or weighing over 400 grams. Your medical practitioner determines this.
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.
Early pregnancy loss
If your baby died in early pregnancy, the birth can’t be registered. However, 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.
