Do you get a birth certificate for a stillborn baby?

Generally not a standard birth certificate, since the baby wasn't born alive. But every Australian state and territory provides a form of Certificate of Stillbirth or commemorative certificate that formally acknowledges the birth, often including the baby's name if the parents choose to register one. The exact name and format of this document differs between states; ask the hospital or the relevant BDM registry what's issued locally.

Do you have to name the baby on the registration?

In most states, naming is optional but available if parents want it recorded formally. This is a personal decision, and there's no requirement either way. Some parents choose a name for the certificate and for the funeral or memorial; others prefer not to, and both are equally valid. Ask the hospital's midwife or social worker what your specific state allows before the registration is finalised, since not all documents can be amended later.

Is there a cost to register a stillbirth?

Standard stillbirth registration itself typically carries no fee to the family in most states, since it's treated similarly to standard birth and death registration. A certified copy of the commemorative certificate may carry a small fee, similar to ordering an extra birth or death certificate. Check current fees with the relevant state or territory BDM registry, as these vary and change over time.

What's the difference between a miscarriage and a stillbirth for registration purposes?

The distinction is generally gestational age and birthweight, not the loss itself. A pregnancy loss before the stillbirth threshold (commonly 20 weeks' gestation or 400 grams, per state legislation) is usually classified as a miscarriage and doesn't require birth or death registration, while a stillbirth does. The emotional weight of either loss isn't defined by this legal threshold; see coping with grief after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss for support that applies regardless of where a specific loss falls on this line.

Death CertificatesGrief & Loss

How Do You Register a Stillbirth in Australia?

Last updated 10 July 2026 · 5 min read

Direct Answer

In Australia, a stillbirth (generally defined in state and territory legislation as the birth of a baby who died before or during birth, from 20 weeks' gestation or at least 400 grams birthweight, whichever is met first) is registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry of the state or territory where it happened: the same agency that handles standard birth and death registrations, but through its own process. Most hospitals help parents complete the registration before or shortly after leaving hospital. Rather than a standard birth certificate, families generally receive a Certificate of Stillbirth (sometimes called a commemorative certificate, and named differently between states); some states also allow parents to formally name the baby on the record even though no birth certificate in the usual sense is issued. There is no cost to the family for standard stillbirth registration itself in most states, though a commemorative certificate copy may carry a small fee. Requirements and exact document names vary by state, so the hospital's social worker or midwife is usually the most direct source for what applies locally.

Detailed Explanation

A stillbirth is registered differently from both a standard birth and a standard death, and most parents encounter this process for the first and only time while going through one of the hardest experiences of their lives. Knowing broadly what to expect can make an already difficult process feel slightly less unfamiliar. See the Death Certificates hub for the site's other guides on registering a death and ordering certificates.

What counts as a stillbirth, legally

Australian states and territories define stillbirth in broadly similar terms in their births, deaths and marriages legislation: the birth of a baby who died before or during birth, at or after 20 weeks' gestation, or with a birthweight of at least 400 grams, whichever threshold is reached first. A loss before this point is generally classified as a miscarriage rather than a stillbirth, and doesn't require the same registration process, though the grief involved is not defined by this legal line, whichever side of it a loss falls on. See coping with grief after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss for support that applies regardless of gestational stage.

How registration actually works

Registration is handled by the same state or territory BDM registry that manages standard births and deaths, but through its own stillbirth-specific process:

The hospital generally initiates it. Most hospitals have a process, often supported by a midwife or hospital social worker, to help parents complete the required registration forms before or shortly after leaving hospital. Parents are rarely expected to navigate this alone or from scratch.
A medical certificate is completed, similar in principle to a death certificate's medical certification, confirming the stillbirth occurred and (where known) the circumstances.
The registry issues a Certificate of Stillbirth (the exact name varies by state; some call it a commemorative certificate) rather than a standard birth certificate, since the baby was not born alive.
Naming is generally optional. Most states allow parents to have the baby's name recorded on the certificate if they choose, though the specific rules and what can be added or changed later vary by state. Ask early, since some documents are harder to amend after the fact.

How this differs from a standard death certificate

The standard death certificate process exists to formally close out a life that was legally recognised as having begun, for institutions, for the estate, for probate. Stillbirth registration serves a different purpose: formally acknowledging a birth and death that occurred essentially together, for the family's own record rather than to unlock institutional processes like probate or superannuation, since a stillborn baby generally has no estate or assets requiring administration.

Funeral and memorial options

Parents of a stillborn baby generally have the same broad range of options as with any death: a funeral service, cremation, or burial, and many funeral directors, cemeteries, and crematoria offer this specific service at reduced or no cost; see how much a baby or infant funeral costs in Australia for what's commonly waived and what still applies. See how to write a funeral notice if the family chooses to publish one; there's no requirement to do so, and many families choose a private, unpublicised farewell instead.

Where to get support

This is a specific, distinct kind of loss, and dedicated organisations exist for exactly this situation. Red Nose Australia provides support specifically for stillbirth and newborn death, including bereavement counselling and information on hospital processes, alongside general grief and pregnancy-loss services.

Things to Consider

The hospital is usually the most direct source for what applies locally. State processes and document names differ, and hospital midwives and social workers handle this regularly. Ask them directly rather than guessing from general information.
There's no obligation to make every decision immediately. Naming, funeral choices, and how (or whether) to tell others can generally wait until a family has had time, within the hospital's own practical timeframes.
Keep the certificate somewhere safe, the same as any other significant family document. Some parents find it becomes an important keepsake over time, beyond its administrative purpose.
Partners and other children in the family grieve too, often differently and on a different timeline. See coping with grief after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss for guidance that also speaks to this.

Common Mistakes

Assuming a stillbirth is processed exactly like a standard death. The registration path, the certificate issued, and the purpose it serves are all genuinely different.
Assuming naming the baby is mandatory, or that it isn't possible at all. Both assumptions are wrong in most states. It's usually an optional choice available to parents who want it.
Not asking the hospital about the process early. Midwives and hospital social workers handle this regularly and can guide a family through decisions they may not know they need to make.
Feeling a stillbirth "doesn't count" for grief support eligibility. Dedicated organisations like Red Nose Australia exist specifically because this loss is real and distinct, whatever a legal registration threshold says.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you get a birth certificate for a stillborn baby?: Generally not a standard birth certificate, since the baby wasn't born alive. But every Australian state and territory provides a form of Certificate of Stillbirth or commemorative certificate that formally acknowledges the birth, often including the baby's name if the parents choose to register one. The exact name and format of this document differs between states; ask the hospital or the relevant BDM registry what's issued locally.
Do you have to name the baby on the registration?: In most states, naming is optional but available if parents want it recorded formally. This is a personal decision, and there's no requirement either way. Some parents choose a name for the certificate and for the funeral or memorial; others prefer not to, and both are equally valid. Ask the hospital's midwife or social worker what your specific state allows before the registration is finalised, since not all documents can be amended later.
Is there a cost to register a stillbirth?: Standard stillbirth registration itself typically carries no fee to the family in most states, since it's treated similarly to standard birth and death registration. A certified copy of the commemorative certificate may carry a small fee, similar to ordering an extra birth or death certificate. Check current fees with the relevant state or territory BDM registry, as these vary and change over time.
What's the difference between a miscarriage and a stillbirth for registration purposes?: The distinction is generally gestational age and birthweight, not the loss itself. A pregnancy loss before the stillbirth threshold (commonly 20 weeks' gestation or 400 grams, per state legislation) is usually classified as a miscarriage and doesn't require birth or death registration, while a stillbirth does. The emotional weight of either loss isn't defined by this legal threshold; see coping with grief after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss for support that applies regardless of where a specific loss falls on this line.

References

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