Life admin costs on the rise

Thursday 11 January 2024

The cost of various life administration charges such as registering a birth, marriage, or death have gone up.

The fees for registering such events are approved by the States, with amendments to the 1951 law when charges appear to have been introduced for the first time.

The fee for registering the arrival of a new baby now costs £20 - up from £15 last year.

The fee for registering a death is now £30 - up from £20 previously. 

Both births and deaths must be registered at the Greffe, with the law stating that new born babies must be registered within 30 days of their birth.

Parents of a baby born at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital are given a 'Declaration of Birth' form prior to being discharged while when a baby is born at home their parents can fill in the form at the Greffe.

When a person dies, their death must be registered at the Greffe within five working days. 

A funeral director will usually do this and complete the 'Declaration of Death' form on behalf of the family or next of kin. The family or next of kin can register the death themselves if they prefer. 

Both the Declaration of Death and a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death need to be submitted when a death is registered.

These charges can be read in full HERE. 

Various fees relating to getting married have also increased this month.

This includes the formal notice of marriage, the issuing of the marriage licence and the registration of marriage fee.

Charges for civil celebrants and the 'solemnisation of marriage by the Registrar General' during or outside of working hours have also been amended.

These can be read in full HERE.