Website of the UK government

Information you should provide

Births

• full name
• date of birth
• place of birth
• parents’ names, including mother’s maiden name - this is a requirement for any births registered within the last 50 years
  

Marriages

• full names of bride and groom
• date of marriage
• place of marriage
• name and occupation of bride and groom’s fathers
  

Deaths

• full name
• date of death
• place of death
• maiden surname if applicable

Stillbirths

There are particular circumstances concerning stillbirth certificates, please read 'Ordering a stillbirth certificate'.

• Order a stillbirth certificate

Adoptions

• full name of person after adoption*
• adopted person’s date of birth*
• full name(s) of adoptive parent(s)*
• year of adoption (if known)
• court which granted the adoption order (if known)

* You must supply this if applying for certificates of those under 18, otherwise a certificate cannot be issued.

Civil partnerships

• full names of both civil partners
• date partnership was formed
• place partnership was registered
• full addresses of both partners at the time of registration - you must supply this if you are applying for the full certificate that includes addresses

If you are not able to supply both full addresses, but can still identify the record, you can be supplied with a certificate which does not contain the partner’s addresses.

Tips to ensure you order the correct certificate

If you have one piece of information that you are certain of, plus the GRO index reference, you can ask the GRO to check the details using their reference checking service. You can request a check of up to four references, and will only receive a certificate if the information matches. Please be aware that you will be charged £3 for each reference checked where a certificate does not result from that check.

If you have found a certificate index reference which you cannot read clearly, you can use the GRO’s unclear microfiche service. You can read more about this using the links below.

If the surname is one that appears frequently, more detailed information helps ensure you receive the correct certificate.

• Order certificates online Opens new window

• First steps in researching your family history

• Researching family history using official records

• Using the General Register Office to research family history

For events in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You can contact the relevant General Register Office using the links below.

• General Register Office for Scotland Opens new window

• General Register Office for Northern Ireland Opens new window