Belfast City Council to Stop Charging Fees for End-of-Life Marriages and Still-Birth Certificates

Strategic Insights -

In a recent committee meeting, Belfast City Council's city solicitor Nora Largey briefed elected members on the council's proposals to respond to the proposed Death, Still-Birth and Baby Loss Bill. The council is requesting that statutory obligations be removed, including charging fees for certificates in cases of end-of-life marriage and long-birth certificates in cases of still-birth and infant mortality. As part of the council's response to the consultation, families who experience a stillbirth or the death of an infant under one year old will receive a short birth and death certificate and a stillbirth certificate for free.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Belfast City Council will no longer charge fees for certificates in cases of end-of-life marriage, where one of the partners is terminally ill, and for long-birth certificates in cases of still-birth and infant mortality.
  • The council will provide short birth and death certificates and stillbirth certificates for free to families who experience a stillbirth or the death of an infant under one year old.
  • The council's response to the proposed Death, Still-Birth and Baby Loss Bill will include a request to remove the statutory obligation to charge fees for long-birth certificates in these cases.
  • The council's city solicitor Nora Largey described charging fees for these certificates as "unseemly" in sensitive and emotional situations.
  • The committee agreed to ending the fees and the council's request to change the legislation.

Statistics:

  • The council will charge an £8 fee for long-birth certificates in cases of still-birth and infant mortality.
  • The council provides short birth and death certificates and stillbirth certificates for free to families who experience a stillbirth or the death of an infant under one year old.
  • The council's response to the proposed Death, Still-Birth and Baby Loss Bill includes multiple requests for changes to the legislation.

Sources:

  • "Consultation response: Death, Still-Birth and Baby Loss Bill" (Source: Belfast City Council committee report)
  • "Belfast City Council agrees to end fees for end-of-life marriage and still-birth certificates" (Source: Belfast Telegraph)
  • "Death, Still-Birth and Baby Loss Bill" (Source: Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly)