Civil Registration (Amendment) (Certificate of Life) Bill 2022

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The measure would let parents register the loss of a baby who does not meet the legal stillbirth thresholds, through a new non-statutory “Certificate of Life” kept by the health minister. As explained in the memorandum on page 3, it would cover babies lost before 24 weeks’ gestation or under 500 grammes, even where a stillbirth registration is not available. It matters because it gives families a formal record and recognition, and may also help with tracing family history later on.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004 to establish a non-statutory register called the Certificate of Life to recognise a child that does not conform to World Health Organisation stillbirth standards of less than 500 grammes and a gestational age of less than 24 weeks.

Last updated 30 January 2025