Official recording of stillbirths

General information

If a child is born dead, this is recorded in the register of deaths.

The hospital reports the stillbirth to the registry office. The registry office will also issue its own certificate upon request.

Deadlines

The notification must be made to the registry office of the place of birth.

Competent authority

Any registry office in Austria is responsible for registering the stillbirth within 14 days of the birth. After that, the registry office in the district where the stillbirth took place is responsible:

• The Registry Office or Registry Office Association^{German text} for the municipality
• In Chartered Cities: the Registry Office^{German text} of the municipal executive
  • In Vienna: the Registry Offices in Vienna^{German text} in whose area (district) the stillbirth took place

The following persons must carry out the notification, in the following order of precedence:

• The director of the hospital in which the child was born
• The doctor or midwife who was present at the birth
• The father or mother or other parent, if they are able to do so within the notification period of one week (e.g. in the case of home births)
• The authority or police department conducting investigations into the birth
• Other persons who have knowledge of the birth based on their own observation

Some registry offices and hospitals cooperate with one another, so that the hospitals concerned send the registry office the documents required together with the ‘Notification of stillbirth’ (Anzeige der Totgeburt) form. Please enquire at your hospital or at the competent registry office.In the case of home births the birth or death of a child may only be registered if a confirmation of birth/medical confirmation of death issued by a doctor or midwife is available or the birth or death is not doubtful due to other circumstances.

Required documents

The following must be submitted for registration:

• In the case of an existing marriage or partnership, the parents' marriage certificate or partnership certificate and the mother's most recent marriage certificate in connection with the 300-day period.
• Proof of the parents' main residence (registration confirmation).
• The birth certificate and death certificate, if the stillbirth was not reported by the head of a hospital.

Giving first names

The names of the child given by the parents are entered in the documents.

Costs

• Notification: free of charge
• Certification: free of charge
• Document: free of charge
• After two years: EUR 13.10

Further links

• "Stille Geburt“ pamphlet (Bundeskanzleramt)
• Miscarriage and stillbirth (Gesundheitsportal)

Legal basis

• Personenstandsgesetz (PStG)
• Personenstandsgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (PStG-DV)
• Gebührengesetz (GebG)

Form

• Notification of stillbirth – Template
• Information from the midwife – Stillbirth – Template