Civil
What information will I find?
- Since 1st July 1837, all births, marriages and deaths in
England and Wales have been recorded - at least in theory - by
local Registrars.
- The information is recorded in civil registers and includes
names, dates, addresses and occupations. Birth certificates usually
include the names of both parents and the mother’s maiden name.
Marriage certificates usually give the name of the bride’s and
groom’s fathers and their occupations.
- These records are kept in local offices, but, every quarter,
Registrars send copies to the Registrar-General.
Where can I get a certificate?
- If you know that a birth, marriage or death occurred in a
particular registration district you can contact the particular
register office either for a certificate if you have precise
details, or for an appointment to conduct a search of the indexes,
for up to six hours on any one day. It may take a few days to
arrange a search owing to limited accommodation. There is a fee for
this service. Copy certificates are cheaper from the local Registrar than from the General Register
Office postal applications service.
- You can apply for copy certificates from local register offices
or the General Register Office (GRO).
Register Office Southport and Registrar General, Identity and
Passport Service (all areas)
General Register Office
PO BOX 2
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2JD
Please note: There is a charge for copies from the
Register Office in Southport.
