Genealogy Chat

Here's a point that might be of interest.

My father died recently and my brother and I went along to the register office to register the death. In spite of the sad occasion I found it interesting on a number of points. We had to check the information very carefully at several stages while the details were being entered BUT, apart from the name and medical details, everything else was what we told the registrar (place of birth, occupation, the fact that he was a widower and my mother’s name - there are more details on modern certificates). In effect we were checking carefully but it could have been what we’d imagined! We were asked how many certificates we wanted. I assumed they would be £7 each, but no! While the certificate is in the ‘current’ book they are only £3 each. It is useful to have some spare death certificates for banks, building societies etc. Presumably the same would apply for birth certificates? Could be handy to have a spare copy or two for a child’s future! Anne

As far as the 'unchecked' information required for death certificates - I guess 'they' work on the theory that it would be impossible to require certificates to prove places and dates of birth, marriage etc and there is no reason for anyone to supply information that is knowingly less-than-accurate. Maybe though, in a few years they WILL check the facts on a database. Victoria

When you regisier a birth you get one free short copy of the cert. Any more have to be paid for, but I forget whether they are £3 or £7. Suppose £3??! Merry

While you are giving information of any kind to the registrar, as the informant, you can be charged under the Perjury Act if you knowingly give false information (there should be a yellow card stating this displayed in the office). If the information is taken on the computer, a draft will be printed out for you to check before it's written up into the reg and likewise, you will be asked to check the register entry before you and the registrar sign to make it legal. The short birth cert (name, DOB & district of birth only) is free but it costs £3.50 for the standard cert which is a copy of all the info in the register and is needed these days for passport applications. The death cert is £3.50 too and for both, you can have as many as you want as long as you pay for them. If the register is still current (300 entries per reg), the cost will still be £3.50 but once it is complete and deposited with the Superintendent Registrar, it costs £7. Jack

Jack - thanks for that you are exactly right - shows my memory must be bad, it was only 2 weeks ago. :-( Yes there was a yellow notice - I really meant that we could have been giving info we believed was correct but in fact was not. As illustrated by my duff account of the price I paid - Oh dear!!! Anne x

My mother died a couple of years ago from an asbestos related cancer. This was classed as an industrial disease even though she had been a teacher and was subject to a compulsory post mortem and coroners inquest. i was visited at home by the coroner's clerk who took details of my mother and father's employment history and the course of the illness. I was issued an interim death certificate from the coroner's office and could have as many copies as I needed free of charge. I chose not to attend the inquest but am sure if I had been less upset I would have found it interesting. My uncle also died at the same time following a fall in a nursing home. This was also subject to compulsory post mortem and inquest and again a free temporary certificate was issued. Anne I am very sorry for the loss of your father.

Presumably, Annie, the death was registered in the usual way after the post mortem or inquest and any subsequent certs had to be paid for. At that point, the details have to be entered in the register from the documentation provided by the coroner, however much later this may be, and the register entry records this, as opposed to a doctor's given cause of death and certification (including their med qualification) which appears on a straightforward registration. The coroner issues temporary certs so that you can go ahead and start dealing with the estate, I assume? Jack

Jack No the coroner issued the final certificate after the inquest and registered the death. I did not have to go anywhere to register the death. By then I had arranged the funeral and started settling the estate so did not bother to get a copy of the final certificate so I don't know if I would have had to pay.

Annie - thanks for your kind thoughts Anne

When our son died 2 years ago in tragic cicumstances The coroners officer came to the house to take details of his death etc. and two days later we were issued with one temporary certificate of his death This just stated that he had died and didn't give the cause of death It was 6 weeks before the Inquest was held and afterwards the coroner gave us a letter to take to the registrars The death certficates cost us £3 each Bren

I imagine in the future, registrars will be able to check details online ie if you register a death for Joe Bloggs, born in Blackpool on 29 Oct 1963 they will be able to check that Joe Bloggs was born then and there. But its very casual at the moment. When my dad died, they looked at the doctor's cert giving causes of death, but didn't ask for any proof that my dad was my dad, or that my mum was married to him. nell