Birth declaration conundrum

[Hillhurst]

One of my relatives gave birth to an illegitimate child during the 1920s. Nothing unusual in my family. Here's the conundrum: she registered the birth in the same District she gave birth in.

So why was this birth "as by Declaration" (as noted on the birth certificate)? I thought declarations mainly applied to a birth which took place outside the district where the information is being given.

The birth was registered a month later, and the declaration was dated 4 days before the birth was registered. Apparently some registered births with declarations followed a similar timeline.
The child was subsequently raised by a family member. So I'm left to wonder if it was actually the birth mother or adoptive family member who registered the child's birth (with the declaration)?
The latter was living about 30 miles from the District where the birth was registered. And it's the latter's home address which appears on the birth certificate.

[AntonyMMM]

A birth is always registered in the district in which it occurred.

"By declaration" just means that the informant (the family member 30 miles away in this case) went to an office outside the birth district to give the information. Where they went isn't ever stated on the entry but you can assume it was whatever registration office was local to them. That information ( on a declaration form) would then be sent by  post to the registrar in the correct district who would make an entry in their register, without the informant being present. There is always a day or two difference between the date of the declaration and the date of registration because of the time the post took to arrive.

Doesn't sound at all unusual ..... but what was the qualification given that allowed them to register the birth ? That may be more interesting.

[Hillhurst]

Antony- thank you for clearing up some of my confusion.

The birth mother is listed as the informant. However the address listed belongs to the family member who raised the child.

It was a very complicated and painful family matter, so seeing the "by declaration" has added fuel to the fire. Leave it to my family to be complicated. 

Many thanks again for your helpful reply.

[AntonyMMM]

The birth mother is listed as the informant.

So she signed the declaration and that was the address she gave at the time ( unless someone was impersonating her).

[Hillhurst]

Antony - thanks again for clearing up the declaration "mystery".
I've now located the child (name totally mis-transcribed) - living with the family member in question in 1921. The birth mother is residing elsewhere. So that was a quick handover. "Here...I never wanted the child anyway! Hope you'll be very happy together!"