Genealogy Chat

on line or at reg office??? how d i go about this please

i always use GRO online - only £7 if you know the reference no. local register offices are pretty good too, but i don't use mine as they don't send out a photocopy of the original - they handwrite it and its just not the same, lol , and sometimes they make mistakes !!

The best place is online at the GRO especially for marriages if church/registry unknown, this is the site;- http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

I ALWAYS try the register office first and, although sometimes it's a handwritten copy, usually it's a copy of the original. They're much quicker than GRO and they'll check lots of other reference details for you (like father's name, address, witnesses at marriages etc etc) for free, to avoid sending out the wrong certificate and wasting your money. The registrar is usually so helpful too, about things like telling you where else the cert might be if it's not with them. GRO charge if you want extra references checked and aren't nearly so helpful. If there's no other way, GRO are fine, but I only use them as a last resort. Carlabee

If it is a birth or a death one, then I always try the register office first. Some are incredibly helpful and go the extra mile searching, some do not 'do' family history. Nine times out of ten, register offices are quicker than the GRO.