Chichester Register Office: Registering Births and Deaths and Giving Notice of Marriage

Registration in the Chichester District is run by West Sussex County Council's registration service, not by Chichester District Council. The county's registration offices list shows offices in Chichester and Midhurst. Appointments are essential, and fees and rules are as the council and GOV.UK publish them.

Where are the offices?

• Chichester Registration Office, West Sussex Record Office, 3 Orchard Street, Chichester, PO19 1DD: births and deaths, by appointment Monday to Friday and closed on bank holidays. The office page says there is no on-site parking and disabled access on the ground floor.
• Chichester - Edes House, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1RQ: listed for giving notice of marriage or civil partnership and citizenship ceremonies, by appointment Monday to Friday, with no on-site parking. See its page.
• Midhurst Registration Office, The Grange, Bepton Road, GU29 9HD: births and deaths by appointment on Tuesdays and Fridays. The nearest car park is Grange Road, with the first two hours free, per its page.

The county's phone number for booking births and deaths is 01243 642122.

Registering a birth

The county's birth page says to book online or by phone if the baby was born in West Sussex. If the baby was born outside the county you can use the birth declaration process at any of its offices, but no certificate can be issued at that appointment. If a baby is over 12 months old, extra paperwork is needed and you should ask for the Technical Enquiries team. It lists what to bring: the baby's date, place and name, the parents' names, addresses, occupations and dates and places of birth, the discharge papers with the NHS number if available, and ID such as a passport. Married parents can either register; for unmarried parents the father's details are only included if both attend. A free West Sussex library card is issued to the baby at the appointment. GOV.UK's register a birth page says births must be registered within 42 days.

Registering a death

The county's death page says the death must be registered within 5 days of the Medical Examiner's certificate reaching the registrar, unless the coroner is investigating. The Medical Examiner will call the next of kin and confirm when you can book. You must attend the office you chose when booking, and the council asks that only two family members attend. A relative, someone present at the death, the person arranging the funeral or a hospital administrator can register. Documents help but are not essential. The registrar emails the burial or cremation certificate to the funeral director and gives you a Tell Us Once reference. GOV.UK's register the death page describes the same process.

Giving notice of marriage or civil partnership

According to the county's giving notice page, notice is given in person at a register office in the district where you have lived for the past seven full days. It recommends giving notice at least six to eight months before the ceremony; the ceremony must be within 12 months. Bring original or certified documents, not photocopies, and details of your venue. The notice fee is £46.50 to £63.00 per person, taken when you book, and foreign divorce documents cost £55.00 or £83.00 to consider. Book online separately for marriage or civil partnership, and for both or one partner attending. GOV.UK's give notice page says to give notice at least 29 days before the ceremony.

A local ceremony venue

The district council's Novium page says the Guildhall in Priory Park, a Grade 1 listed building run by The Novium, is licensed for weddings. The county's ceremonies team lists other venues through its venue finder.

For public transport to these offices see the buses guide and train stations guide, and for parking the parking guide.