Genealogy Chat

Please tell me someone.... I've logged onto the GRO site to order some certificates but I'm not sure about a couple of things, 1. It asks the mothers surname (this for a death) is it her former name or her married name? Will it be the same for the other certificates? 2. What's an order reference? thanks Gypsyjoe

Hi Joe, Mothers Surname is NOT required for a death. ONLY the questions with the RED STARS are required to be able to place an order. With Births and Marriages, you CAN use the parents names as a checking reference ... if known The order reference is a name YOU can call your order so that you can locate it easily next time. Not needed ... and I have never used it. Have over 600 certs, so I know it doesn't alter any orders etc. Make sure you print off /or save a copy of the order before you exit ... and also copy the Payment slip afterwards though. This will be needed if you have a query/ Have you made sure you put a check when they asked ..Is the GRO Ref known ? on the first page ? ... For deaths, it MAY ask for the actual date of death. This, most of us don't know !! To get around this ... just put any date at all that would fall within the qtr. So if, your ordering under Dec qtr 1950 ... use the date 01 / 12 / 1950 ...BUT .. you MUST use the Checking reference facility and put ' ACTUAL Date of DEATH NOT known ' ... if you don't, then they will NOT process the application correctly, as they will use 01/12/1950 as the date and if it doesn't match, they will send your app back to you. Hope this helps Elaine ;-)

Thanks Elaine, I think I've done it right. I have the GRO reference for DOB and DOD. Unfortunatly this is my great uncle who died age four and about 8months according to one of his sisters when she was still alive. Thanks again gypsyjoe