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Stillborn Child

Was your child stillborn? If so, you can report this to the Public Entity of Bonaire. This ensures that your child’s birth is officially recorded. It does not matter how long the pregnancy lasted.

What does this product or service mean?

What should you pay attention to?

The registration is important for issuing an official birth certificate. For a pregnancy of 24 weeks or more, you must first register the birth before you can bury or cremate your child.

Was your child stillborn after a pregnancy of 24 weeks or more? Then you must register the birth with the Civil Affairs Department.

Was your pregnancy shorter than 24 weeks? In that case, you may file a report, but it is not mandatory.

The Civil Affairs Department will issue a (stillbirth) birth certificate. This is official proof that your child was born. This certificate is recorded in the death registry, not the birth registry.

Did your child die shortly after birth? In that case, you must first register the birth. Afterward, you must also register the death.

If you wish, you can have your child registered in the Civil Affairs Department’s Basic Personal Data Registry. This is not mandatory and can also be done later. This registration does not happen automatically.

When can you apply for this?

The following individuals may register the birth:

  • the father;
  • the mother;
  • a hospital employee;
  • the funeral director;
  • any other person who is aware of the death.

How do you apply for this?

The funeral director can file the report online on your behalf.

You can also file the report yourself.

Here’s how to file the report:

  • Go to the Civil Affairs Department.
  • Bring the following with you:
    • your valid ID;
    • the doctor’s certificate of your child’s death.

Here’s how to register your child in the Basic Registry at the Civil Affairs Department:

  • Go to the Civil Affairs Department.
  • Bring the following with you:
    • your valid ID;
    • if you have it: the birth certificate (stillborn).

Who can you contact?

Civil Affairs
Adress: Kaya Neerlandia 40
Telephone: (+599) 715 5330
Email: info@bonairegov.com

Opening hours
Monday through Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Friday: Closed

How long does it take?

 Was your child stillborn after a pregnancy of 24 weeks or more? In that case, burial or cremation may not take place until after the death has been reported.
You may not bury or cremate a deceased person earlier than 36 hours or later than 6 business days after the death.

This time limit does not apply to pregnancies shorter than 24 weeks.

What does it cost?

Reporting is free of charge.

Which laws and rules apply?

What do we do with your personal data?

When you submit a request or report, the Public Entity of Bonaire needs your personal data. The Public Entity of Bonaire handles your data with care.

The BES Personal Data Protection Act specifies how the Public Entity of Bonaire must do this.

The most important rules are:

  • The Public Entity of Bonaire only requests data necessary to process your request or report.
  • They record and process your data securely, confidentially, and with care.
  • Your data will only be used for the application or report, or for something directly related to it.
  • Your data will not be retained longer than necessary for the application or report.
  • Other organizations will only receive your data if required by law.
  • You may ask how your data is being used and what happens to it.
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