Genealogy Chat

As Judith points out, the copies held by the GRO and local registry offices are just that - copies transcribed from the original parish register. Be aware that transcription errors can and will creep in. And if your copy is a typed or handwritten one from the copy held by a registry office, the risk of error is compounded. This is why I prefer photostat copies from the GRO. If in doubt, your best bet is to view the original parish register or a microfilm copy of it. Apart from anything else, this will let you see the actual signatures of the bride and groom. (Essential if you suspect that one of them was committing bigamy!)

Joy - cheers! Shelli - thank you! much appreciated. Anne :O)

I always order birth and death certificates from the register office. Turnaround is sometimes by return of post. The certificates at the GRO are copies of the ones held at the register office. Marriage certificates - if it is in a rural area, I send to the register office; otherwise to the GRO, as i wouldn't expect a superintendent registrar to search and search through churches. Happy hunting! Joy

Anne Just for you xxx Oxford Created 1st July 1837. Mainly in Oxfordshire, but included part of Berkshire. Sub-district : Oxford. GRO volumes : XVI (1837-51); 3a (1852-1930). Grandpont (from 1889), Holywell, Oxford All Saints, Oxford St. Aldate, Oxford St. Ebbe, Oxford St. Martin, Oxford St. Mary Magdalene, Oxford St. Mary the Virgin, Oxford St. Michael, Oxford St. Peter in the East, Oxford St. Peter-le-Bailey, Oxford St. Thomas. Registers now in Oxfordshire district. Oxfordshire Tidmarsh Lane, Oxford, OX1 1NS. Tel: 0845 129 5900.

Jeanette - ta! Good old Google - where would we be without it? Shelli - ah! Didn't think to look there, cheers - looking at Oxford currently. Judith - thanks also for that - so much paperwork :O can imagine how things will be in decades to come - everything recorded on microchips and the like LOL Many thanks again Ladies :O)

Hi Anne, The local offices hold the registers but have to send a copy of the entries made each quarter to the GRO. So certificates from the local office are copies or (more often) typed transcripts of the original register and certificates from the GRO are copies of the return which was sent from the local office within three months of the event. Just to add to the confusion marriages in church are recorded in 2 registers. One is the church register (usually deposited at county records offices when full), and the second register is sent to the local register office. The vicar also has to provide the quarterly return for the GRO. This means that if the marriage was fairly recent or the church doesn't carry out many weddings the local office may not yet hold the register. I have found contact details for local offices on GENUKI Judith

full list on genuki what one do you want?

Anne I usually Google - register office + place name Jeanette x

Thanks Ladies, Makes sense now - so basically all entries for events go to 'Head Office' ie GRO, but the registering office has a 'carbon copy/duplicate' of some kind?? Now I can get my head round it LOL...... So is there a website for finding contact details for local offices?? Cheers, Anne (now less confused)

Hi Anne I don't know the exact answer to this, but I do know when you order from a local office you get a modern typed or handwritten cert and not a photocopy of the copy(!) like you do from the GRO. So I assume your local office has a database of the relevent info. Jeanette x

Anne Local offices can only provide copies of the certificates for their area, whereas the GRO covers the whole of the UK. The local offices have the register entries the same as the GRO have. It is often quicker to order from the local office than from the GRO although some local offices, including some of the London ones, wont take requests for certificates and will just direct you back to the GRO. I've had fantastic service from the ones I've used, usually receiving a certificate within 2 or 3 days of ordering rather than the 2 to 3 weeks its taking the GRO at the moment due to the backlog Lou

I have only ever ordered my Certs online from GRO. But I see many references from folks on here, to ordering them from local offices in the relevant areas. I am confused then, as to if GRO hold all the records, how come the local offices are able to provide copies of certificates??? Anne