Special Consular Services

Obtaining Copies of Public Records in England and Wales

Applying via an online form, or by telephone, fax, or email

Birth, death, marriage, and adoption certificates may be ordered through the Certificate Services Section of the UK General Register Office: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate/index.asp .

You may also write to: Certificate Services Section, General Register Office, P.O. Box 2, Southport, Merseyside PR8 2JD; tel: +44 (0) 845-603-7788 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) fax: +44 (0) 170-455-0013; e-mail certificate.services@ons.gsi.gov.uk . Include "GQ" in the subject line of your email if you do not wish to receive an automated response.

Online orders can be placed for any birth, marriage, or death registered in England or Wales. Certificates can also be obtained for any adoption authorized by order of a court in England or Wales since 1927. Frequently asked questions regarding the online ordering process are answered at http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/faqs.asp . Any other inquiries or to report problems with the online form should be sent to col.admin@ons.gsi.gov.uk

Fees vary based on the service requested the method of request. For more information, see the website at: http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/fees.asp .

Applying In Person

To apply for a certificate in person, you should go to the Family Records Centre, 1 Myddelton Street, London EC1R 1UW, tel: 020-8392-5300. Please call to verify opening hours. For birth certificates, you will need to know the person's full name, date and place of birth, and the mother's maiden name to make a request. If you do not know the precise date of birth, you may conduct your own search for the appropriate record. For death certificates, provide the full name of deceased, date and place of death, age at death, and if known, occupation. For marriage certificates, provide the full names of each party, date and place of marriage, and the name and occupation of father of both bride and groom. For adoption certificates, you will be directed to the Adoption Register at the Family Records Centre. Fees apply for all applications.

Divorce Records

If the applicant cannot remember, or does not have the information about, the local County Court in which the divorce was granted, applications should be addressed to the Principal Registry of the Family Division, Divorce Registry, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP, tel: 020-7936-6000, giving the case number, full names of both parties, date and place of divorce, and date and place of marriage. Enclose an International Money Order IN STERLING and made payable to "H.M. Paymaster General" for the sum of £2.00 to receive a copy of the record. If the case number is not known and a search has been made, the fee for the service is £20.00. If the record is not held in the Principal Divorce Registry, the registrar writes two letters; one to the applicant informing them of the appropriate court where the record is held, and the other to the court requesting that it make a record of the applicant's address and urging the court to contact the applicant.

Wills, Grants of Representation, and other Probate Documents

For copies of wills and grants of representation, applications should be addressed to the Record Keeper, Probate Department, Principal Registry of the Family Division, First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP, tel: 0207-936-7022, stating the full name and address of the deceased and the date and place of death. An International Money Order IN STERLING for the sum of £5.00 and made payable to "H.M. Paymaster General" should be enclosed with the application. This includes the search fee. If a record is found, a certified copy of the record will be sent to you. If you require additional copies of the same document, an extra fee of 25 pence for each page of the record is charged.

Copies of probate documents can be obtained by writing to the York Probate Sub-Registry, Duncombe Place, York Y01 7EA, enclosing an International Money Order IN STERLING for £2.00 with your application. Additional copies of the same document will be charged at 25 pence for each page of the record.

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