Office of Public Sector Information
This version of this statute is extracted from the UK Statute Law Database (SLD). It is not necessarily in the form in which it was originally enacted but is a revised version, which means that any subsequent amendments to the text and other effects are incorporated with annotations.
1—5... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7–16.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24–27.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31–33.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35, 36... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38—44... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47–49.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
54.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Act to amend the Law relating to the Registration of Births and Deaths in England, and to consolidate the Law respecting the Registration of Births and Deaths at Sea.
[7th August 1874]
C1Preamble omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1893 (c. 54)
E1For extent see s. 15.
I1Act wholly in force on 1.1.1875.
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
F1S. 6 repealed by Local Government Act 1929 (c. 17), Sch. 12 Pt. II
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
F1S. 17 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1926 (c. 48), Sch. 2
A person shall not wilfully bury or procure to be buried the body of any deceased child as if it were still-born.
A person who has control over or ordinarily buries bodies in any burial ground shall not permit to be buried in such burial ground the body of any deceased child as if it were still-born, . . . F1
Any person who acts in contravention of this section shall be liable [F2on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale].
F1Words repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1926 (c. 48), Sch. 2
F2Words in s. 18 substituted (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 Pt. I para.7.
Where there is in the coffin in which any deceased person is brought for burial the body of any other deceased person, or the body of any still-born child, the undertaker or other person who has charge of the funeral shall deliver to the person who buries or performs any funeral or religious service for the burial of such body or bodies notice in writing signed by such undertaker or other person, and stating to the best of his knowledge and belief with respect to each such body the following particulars:—
(a)If the body is the body of a deceased person, the name, sex, and place of abode of the said deceased person;
(b)If the body has been found exposed, and the name and place of abode are unknown, the fact of the body having been so found and of the said particulars being unknown; and
(c)If the body is that of a deceased child without a name, or a still-born child, the name and place of abode of the father, or, if it is illegitimate, of the mother of such child.
Every person who fails to comply with this section shall be liable [F1on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale].
F1Words in s. 19 substituted (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 Pt. I para.7.
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
F1Ss. 21, 24–27, 31–33 repealed by Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37), Sch. 2
F1Ss. 22, 34 repealed by Local Government Act 1929 (c. 17), Sch. 12 Pt. I
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
F1Ss. 21, 24–27, 31–33 repealed by Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37), Sch. 2
F1S. 28 repealed by National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 (c. 32), Sch. 5
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
F1Ss. 21, 24–27, 31–33 repealed by Registration Service Act 1953 (c. 37), Sch. 2
F1Ss. 22, 34 repealed by Local Government Act 1929 (c. 17), Sch. 12 Pt. I
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
F1S. 37 repealed by Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Special Provisions) Act 1957 (c. 58), ss. 2(3), 7(2)
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
F1S. 45 repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I Group1.
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
This Act . . . F1 shall extend only to England and Wales.
F1Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. XIX
F1Ss. 1–5, 7–16, 20, 23, 30, 35, 36, 38–44, 47–49, 52, Schs.1–3 repealed by Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20), Sch. 2
This Act may be cited as “The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1874.”
Births and Deaths Registration Act 1874