A new baby brings joy, exhaustion and a surprising amount of paperwork, most of it arriving in the weeks when you have the least sleep to deal with it. None of it is hard on its own. The trouble is remembering it all on three hours’ rest. Here is a calm checklist so nothing important slips through.
In the first few weeks
- Register the birth. In England and Wales this is usually within 42 days, at the register office.
- Order a copy or two of the birth certificate while you are there; you will need it for several of the steps below.
- Add the baby to your household record, so their details are somewhere findable.
Money and benefits
- Claim Child Benefit. It is worth doing even if one parent earns enough to pay some of it back, because it helps protect your State Pension record.
- Check whether you qualify for other support, and look into tax-free childcare or childcare accounts if you will need them.
- Tell your employer and sort out maternity, paternity or shared parental leave and pay.
Protecting your family
This is the part new parents most often mean to do and never quite get to:
- Review or take out life insurance, so your family is provided for.
- Make or update your will, and think about who would care for your child if you could not.
- Consider a lasting power of attorney, and note your wishes somewhere findable.
None of this is cheerful, and all of it is love in practical form. Doing it while the baby is tiny means it is done.
Keep it together
Between the certificate, the benefit references, the childcare logins and the insurance, a new baby generates a little cluster of important information. Keeping it in one place, rather than scattered across emails and a drawer, means you can find it when you are tired and someone asks. That is exactly what FamilySafe is for.
Download the free checklist to work through when you have a spare five minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to register the birth?
In England and Wales, usually within 42 days. Scotland allows 21 days, and Northern Ireland has its own timeframe. Check your local register office.
Should I claim Child Benefit even if we earn too much?
It is usually worth registering, because it can protect the State Pension record of the parent who claims, even if some or all of the payment is repaid through the tax charge.
What is the most important thing to sort?
Reviewing life insurance and making or updating a will, including who would care for your child. It is the admin most parents postpone and most regret postponing.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Register a birth, Child Benefit, and childcare support
