Find information about community support and our services during the coronavirus pandemic, on our information for residents pages, our information for businesses pages, and our community support hub page which has guidance to help coordinate community organisations.
See a summary of our Local Outbreak Control Plan and read our frequently asked questions.
Coronavirus: Births, Deaths and Marriages
Information about births, deaths and marriages during the coronavirus pandemic
Births
The government has advised that birth registrations can recommence on 1 June 2020.
As registrations will be face to face we need to ensure that we have safe plans in place for parents and staff. Therefore birth registrations in West Berkshire will recommence on 11 June 2020. Please call us from Monday 8 June 2020 to make an appointment.
Only one parent will be able to attend where the couple are married or in a civil partnership. For couples who are not married or in a civil partnership both parents must attend. Please do not bring baby or other children unless you have no alternative. You may be asked to queue when you arrive and Shaw House has a one-way system in place throughout the building. Please observe social distancing guidelines at all times.
Marriages and Civil Partnerships
Small marriage ceremonies and civil partnership registrations can re-start on 4 July 2020 in England and Wales.
All parties should adhere to social distancing and premises where they can take place must be Covid-19 secure. Ceremonies will be concluded in the shortest reasonable time and limited to the parts of the marriage or civil partnership that are required in order to be legally binding under the law of England and Wales.
Ceremonies in the Register Office room are limited to the couple, their witnesses and the registrars.
Ceremonies in The Ceremony Room, Shaw House are limited to the couple, the registrars and 10 guests, this includes the witnesses and photographer.
For ceremonies at licensed venues up to 15 people can attend, where this can be safely accommodated with social distancing. This maximum number includes the couple and their witnesses but not the registrars, photographer/videographer or anyone that works at the venue..
The ceremony content will be limited to the legal declarations and the legal vows and no other enhancements can currently be included.
New booking for marriages and civil partnership are now being taken and appointments for notices of marriage or civil partnership are now available.
Deaths and Still Births
Deaths and still births are currently being registered by telephone and you do not need attend the register office for a face to face appointment. Please call us on 01635 279230 for further details of how to register.