Genealogy Chat

As others have said, it can be very worthwhile buying certificates from local reg offices as the turnround times can be faster than the GRO. (See Glen Jones' thread, ''Local Registry Offices'' which details those registrars that are particularly helpful!!) Plus local offices will often be able to send a copy of the original cert (with signatures!), particularly if you ask them if they are able to do so. However, there are some local offices who do not deal with applications for family history purposes. Also those who will do birth and death certs, but not marriages, due to the high number of possible venues, but may be more flexible than those who won't help at all. This thread is not designed to malign these various offices.....(I guess it's just that they are particularly busy etc). Just to help us save our own time! Happy Hunting - Merry x

LAMBETH (Surrey) doesn't do Family History certs at all. BATH (Somerset) doesn't do marriages unless the venue is known. HACKNEY and CAMDEN didn't do Family History certs last time I asked, but that was about 5 years ago! Merry

If you want a marriage cert from Bath, try Bath BMD first, because if it is on there it may well tell you the venue! I found one of my rellies on there the other day and it had name and address of church and also two surnames for the bride, so I could tell she had been married before. Very useful site on bathbmd.org.uk Kate.

HULL.........Applications by post only EAST YORKSHIRE (Beverley)..........were taking applications over the phone the last time I ordered one, but they were very busy and said it would take up to 3 weeks

ISLINGTON have also told me that they dont issue certs before a certain date but am not sure what it is.

Hi Merry I have revised my thread slightly for offices which do,and invited members to post on here those offices which don't. Hope you don't mind Glen

Hi Everyone, Islington and Southwark won't deal with any certs before 1900. I rang today to ask them. Good luck to all researchers, Mo

Good idea Glen! Merry

Hyah Bradford West Yorkshire takes requests over the phone and if requested am will be here next day ... i just ordered one this afternoon and lady apologised saying she could not get it in todays post but would post it tomorrow .... very helpful xxx

By the way, Merry, have you seen Alter's posting on the Success Board? We're famous! Kate.

LOL Kate.....he told me it was slightly tongue-in-cheek!!.....but I think that might be because I said what he wrote sounded like one of those remedies for corns or piles you see at the back of magazines (''success is guaranteed with......'' LOL) ......Not that I read those! Merry

Its worth mentioning that basically local offices are very inconsistent with regards their interpretation of data protection,or privacy laws as they are callled in Oz,and libraries likewise. Some offices ask you to provide the exact date of marriage if it is in the last 75 years before issuing copy certs,which is ridiculous considering a lot,if not most children wouldnt know the date of their parents or grandparents wedding.

nudge for others

Merry I did get a copy of a marriage certificate from Hackney, it was one of the long ones to - handwritten. That was in April 2005. Tower Hamlets are very quick and very helpful in supplying certificates. Irene

n

Nudge for Laura

Whitby.. You are given a phone number for Harrogate. Postal applications only. Will update when Mine arrives as to timescale.

Hi Tracy. I sent my application to harrogate today. 1 birth in selby-1 marriage in ripon-1 death in richmond, yorkshire. All from harrogate. Phoned York reg office for 2 death certificates. Will arrive in tomorrow mornings post. Vanessa

Sorry Tracy. YORK BMD`S Vanessa

birmingham has a geneologist who will help you if you are not sure maybe others have them as well if you ask