Genealogy Chat

We just got the marriage cert for my mothers parents through the post. I expected that it would be a photocopy of the original entry.... and therefore signed by the two people getting married. However, although obviously a photocopy, it is signed by the person who completed the rest of the certificate (including the names of the witnesses) is this usual? I've never ordered/seen one of these copies before so really don't know what to expect or is usual for them. I'm just a bit confused now. Thanks in advance, Liz

When a marriage takes/took place in church 2 registers are filled in, and signed by the people concerned. Every three months the vicar then sends a copy of the details from the registers to the local register office, who in turn send these to the GRO - these will all be in one handwriting, that of the vicar. When the registers themselves are full one copy is deposited with the local register office - but if you send to them for copies they often type out certificates rather than photocopy them. The other register may stay at the church, or more likely will be deposited at the county record office. If you can visit there, or contact them and ask for a photocopy of the entry it will have the original signatures. Hope this helps. Judith

thanks judith, how does that work if they married at a register office? I dread to think how annoyed my mum will be if we spent out all that money and waited a week for GRO to send out a marriage cert we could wandered down the records office lol. Liz

Register office marriage registers stay in the local register office, with a transcription returned quarterly to GRO. They don't deposit at the Records office as far as I know. Judith

ahh thank you.. that would certainly make sense :) thanks, Liz :D