Register the birth of your child

Who can register the birth of a child?

• The child’s parents
• One of the child’s parents, if the other is incapable or not present
• The child’s legal guardian, if both parents are incapable

Register the birth of your child

You must register your child's birth within 60 days. Your health care provider will help you complete the registration forms. If your child was born in a hospital, staff at Admitting and Discharge will ensure the forms are completed and submitted before you leave.

How to use surnames

Your child's birth surname can have a maximum of 2 surnames, either hyphenated or combined. If either parent has a hyphenated or combined surname, only 1 of the names in their surname can be used on the registration.

If the parents agree on the surname of the child

Parents can choose the child's surname. It can be any combination of their names (only 2 hyphenated or combined) or a different last name all together.

Example: Alex Smith and Pat Brown-Adams have a child. The baby's surname could be Baby Smith-Brown, Baby Adams-Smith, Baby Jones or any other surname the parents choose.

If the parents disagree on the surname of the child

If the parents have different surnames, they can use a surname that consists of their surnames hyphenated or combined in alphabetical order. When 1 parent already has a hyphenated or combined surname, only one of those names can be used in the surname.

Example: Alex Smith and Pat Brown-Adams have a child. The baby's surname could be Baby Adams-Smith or Baby Brown-Smith.

What does the government do with this information?

We collect this information under the authority of the Vital Statistics Act. We use it to register this birth, produce birth certificates and for statistical and demographic records. Email vital.statistics@gov.yk.ca if you have any questions.

Your personal information is confidential and protected under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.