Genealogy Chat

Thanks Bob, will try the local office for my next cert!

wanted to add my name for future reference liz

I understand that some logel register offices will not provide certificates for genealogical research, and others put them to the bottom of the priority list. This is tfrom the Liverpool Register Office website, for example 'Certificates for family history research are processed within 2 to 3 weeks or less, depending upon the time of year and the demand for other certificates'.

Peter, I posted my request to Liverpool RO on Sunday night and received a marriage cert on Tuesday morning I think that's pretty good, maybe they were having a quiet day. Cal.

Also some, like Liverpool treat genealogical requests as low priority. They offer a 30 day turnaround at best. I did get one from Huddersfield recently by return post, so there are some that are very quick.

I have only applied online to the GRO so far and having read messages re certificates on here thought that standadr practice was to refund if the certificate was not the correct one. I have just had an email from them re a birth certificate I had ordered saying that the parents first names did not match on my order so they hadn't issued a certificate but were only refunding £4 to my card and keeping £3 as a checking fee. Is this standard for online orders? If local offices send cheques back uncashed, surely the GRO should be refunding fully too? I am still a bit of a newbie as far as this is concerned, so any advice appreciated. Thanks Dawn

Birmingham Registry Office gives an excellant service-max wait two hours.Will not issue cert if all info is not correct.Has geneoligist to help if you need advice-he also gave me his direct phone number.But I am lucky as nearly all my rellies from Brum.marie

Dawn, what has happened to you is the GRO's standard practice.

Thanks Maid Marion, will use local office next time if it's a not sure certificate! Dawn

nudge

Hi I want to order a marriage certificate from Willesden London, but i am not sure now after reading this thread. My question is should i or shudn't i, and should i do it online or not. Thankyou Pat

Found this really good as so far only needed Scottish info which is easy, it seems more complicated south of the border but now I've found English links I'll have to get used to your system. Thanks for all the useful info. Helena

Hi from Australia, could you tell me if I could get a copy of a marriage Cert from 1811 , fromWolverhampton Stafford or would it be somewhere else (church), another county, I dont know the counties in England or where they are, would there be an online site? sorry for all the questions.

Hi Cindy There are no certificates prior to 1837 because registration was only introduced then, but you might be able to find a marriage record in the local parish records. Some of them are on the Family Search site, but not all and apparently not if they are Roman Catholic records.

Thanks but I did find it on family search but dont know what parish it would be or if whats on that site is the only info from the wedding, would there be more info in the reg at the parish? does any one know the parish name or address as I dont know the area, it may be my last line in finding my ggggranddad I need to know were born and parent to carry on. Cheers

Hi Cindy If you let me know what names you're looking for, I can see if I can find them on there. I might be able to find churches in that area from what you've found on Family Search. Sometimes if you put the church name into a search engine you occasionally come across sites where people have transcribed the parish records for themselves and they can be really useful.

As someone who works in a Register Office I just want to say the letter is great. I only wish more people had this sort of format, although I do appreciate for many of our enquirers it is a 'one off' request. Honestly we sometimes get so much information it is really hard to find which certificate they actually require and other times we get a name only!!! A telephone number (office hours) is really helpful as we all hate to be beaten and sometimes we can elicit that little extra nuggett of information which assists us. Turn around time does depend on how busy we are. Please remember we deal with currrent Registrations and Marriages and have lots of in person enqiries. We always return payment if unsuccessful and separate cheques for each enquiry does make it easier if we send on one enquiry to another office. Finally a thank you to all who appreciate we are only human and trying to do our best.

just reading your note ive always gone to the gro online great tip thankyou didnt realise they could do it saffronx

just reading your note ive always gone to the gro online great tip thankyou didnt realise they could do it saffronx

Hi Everyone This is a great tip and the format of the letter really helps. I have been mainly researching Scottish ancestors so far but now starting on the English side and it seems so much more complicated than up here. Happy Hunting Diana