Genealogy Chat

thanks micheal for being so patient! sam

The checking reference is free.

Okay. Let's put this in simple terms. To get a certificate from the official GRO (General Registration Office) you order online from their website at www.gro.gov.uk. Payments come out on your card as ONS (Office for National Statistics) which is one and the same thing. THERE ARE DIFFERENT PRICES FOR CERTIFICATES DEPENDING ON THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER. IF YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY 'GRO REFERENCE' FOR THE CERTIFICATE YOU WANT. (which can be gotten from either FreeBMD or Ancestry) then the fee is £7.00. If you cannot provide this information then the general search fee is £10, so they search the indexes for you within a year or two of the year you specify. If you have the necessary Registration District, Year and specific quarter of the year (Jan.Mar, Apr/Jun, Jul/Sep or Oct/Dec), plus the volume number (usually a number followed by a letter) and a page number (usually three or four numbers), then you enter this at the time and when prompted 'Is the GRO reference number known?' click on the buttton that says yes and enter the details accordingly. It's not nessary to fill in all the bits about exact dates or last known address, maiden names, etc, especially if you don't know them - leave it blank. The reference numbers are all that is needed. Of course, if you have a common name like John Smith or something you might want to pay extra for a 'reference check' to make sure you have the right person, so if one or more things on the certificate don't match your info the certificate will not be sent and I think you get a partial refund. Otherwise, there is really no way of knowing you have the right 'John Smith' (or whoever) until you actually get the certificate in the post. I've ordered about 40 so far I guess, and only one has been wrong, which isn't a bad success rate. The GRO also take postal applications, for which the prices are basically the same. Some people prefer to order their certificates from the local registration office oncerned, as the GRO ones are 'copies of copies' all written in the same hand if you get my meaning - if you want to see your relatives actual signature, then you have to make enquiries local to where the event occured. The cost is about the same (£7) and generally speaking it is also quicker than the GRO postal service, and in some cases you can apply in person and get the certificates while you wait. It helps to have a pretty good idea of where to look though, and for marriage certs, you need to know the location of the happy event so they can find it as this is how they are indexed. As far as beginners are concerned, I would suggest sticking with the GRO until you get the hang of things and how the system works. Once you order one and see how simple it is, you won't be able to stop yourself wanting even more! It reads a lot more complicated than it actually is! Michael

sam, youre welcome :) Julie

ooooh I have got it to £7.00 now thank you a lot for your patience. Thanks all of you! sam

Sam, its only that if you dont have the reference - you have the reference - go to the GRO site, tick the box that asks if you have the reference and then fill in the details, when you click on order it will tell you £7 Full certificate of birth, marriage, death or adoption (with GRO reference supplied) ordered online £7.00

It will be because you haven't entered the ref number or have asked for a checking reference. Take a look at the pm i sent you for the local office. Glen

Think we've established that then

I wonder why mine is ten pounds then. It is the link off ancestry.co.uk

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ It should be £7 Sam. Full certificate of birth, marriage, death or adoption (with GRO reference supplied) ordered online £7.00 Its only £10 if you dont have the reference - which you already have.

hiya sam, as you have the Full ref and GRO number for the birth it will only cost £7, if you dont know these ref's it will be more, the refs are the Volume number, and Page number, when you fill in the online order it will ask if GRO refs are known, if you check box, then put in said details, it will only cost you £7 I hope this helps Julie

I order most weeks, and the set fee is £7, unless you dont have enough info (you do) then its 11. It shouldnt take 15 days at min, plus you dont get the delivery date til youve paid. If its an overseas cert maybe thatd be different - Ive never ordered one so don't know. But that address looks familiar, except the end bit.

Standard : Despatched on the 15th working day from receipt of order. Cost: £10.00 per certificate. from website

Or you can use the link on Ancestry, as has been previously said.

Have I got the rigth website :http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/ because it says it will cost ten pounds and take 15 working days? Sam

Its not £10 for a cert. its 7, if you give them the info you gave us. Beware, there are a lot of rip-off sites around! The ONS site has 'gro.gov' in its address. Cant remember rest. ONS is the official government site.

what is ons ? Sam

It'll take longer, but you can if you want. If you order online it'll hopefully be with you within 8 days (at the min). Its poss to order over the phone I think.

Also I have looked at the grow and it says it is £10.00 for a cert.? Sam

Do you send a letter to the office giving them details and a cheque for £7.00 and they will post it to you? Sam