French Civil Code
In forceWhen a child dies before its birth has been declared to the civil registry, the civil registrar draws up a birth record and a death record on production of a medical certificate stating that the child was born alive and viable and specifying the days and times of its birth and death.
Failing the medical certificate provided for in the previous paragraph, the civil registrar draws up a stillbirth record. This record is entered on its date in the death registers and states the day, time and place of birth, the forenames and surnames, dates and places of birth, occupations and residences of the father and mother and, if applicable, those of the declarant. At the request of the father and mother, the child's forename(s) and a surname may also be entered, which may be either the father's surname or the mother's surname, or their two surnames together in the order chosen by them, subject to a maximum of one surname for each. This registration of first names and surnames has no legal effect. The record drawn up does not prejudge whether the child lived or not; any interested party may apply to the judicial court for a ruling on the matter.
