How do I search the GRO Index and then apply for birth,marriage and death certificates?
SEARCHING You can search the GRO Index either online or in person. Most online websites for searching the index operate commercially and so charge a fee to access their records. It is usually free to search the index in person.
Searching for free
FreeBMD – its aim is to transcribe the Civil Registration (GRO) Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths for England and Wales and to provide free internet access to the transcribed records. In some instances, part of the original index can be viewed as a digital image. It operates through the generosity of volunteer transcribers; therefore not all years have been transcribed as yet.
GenUKI – selective online transcriptions for South East England.
Many local libraries, record offices, family history societies and The National Archives at Kew hold the GRO Index (also known as the St Catherine’s Index). It is usually in microfiche format, where the Index has been photographed onto 15 x 10cm transparent sheets, therefore you will need access to a microfiche reader in order to view them on. It might be sensible to book a microfiche reader in advance of your visit to your chosen repository.
Searching for a fee
Ancestry - free to search, but you need to subscribe in order to view the digital images. You can view the complete GRO Birth, Marriage & Death Index from 1837 to 2005.
Find My Past - formerly named 1837online.com, is free to search but to view the records you will need to purchase credits, either pay-per-view units or one of three subscription options. You can search the complete GRO Birth, Marriage & Death Index from 1837 to 2005.
Family Relatives - You can view the complete GRO Birth, Marriage & Death Index from 1837 to 2005. Click here for more information on searching the
Civil Registration Indexes on this site.
APPLYING You can apply for certificates from GRO in the following ways.
Online:Click here for
GRO’s online certificate ordering service.
In writing:Certificate Services Section
General Register Office
PO Box 2
SOUTHPORT
PR8 2JD
By phone:Tel: +44 (0) 845 603 7788
(8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, Saturday 9am to 4pm).
Calls are charged at the cost of a local call. Please note your call may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.