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BMD Certs

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Andrew

Andrew Report 31 Dec 2010 12:27

Hi, need some help. Have started making my family tree and was wondering if there is any way of obtaining copies of BMD certs other than the GRO ?
Andy

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 31 Dec 2010 12:53

Yes you can apply at the local register offices in some areas.

LindainBerkshire1736004

LindainBerkshire1736004 Report 31 Dec 2010 13:00

Please don't go to any other websites offering to get certificates as they usually charge much more than the GRO.
Under £10 if you have the reference number

Linda :o)

Researching:
Peryer(Winchester), Barber(Norfolk), Franklin(Oxford), Sadler(Marylebone), Davies(Hammersmith/Northampton), Rance(Wokingham), Hedley(Gateshead/Lincolnshire), Wilson(Derbyshire/India), French(India/Ireland), Luffman(Wiltshire), Barnett(Brixton/Lincolnshire)

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 31 Dec 2010 13:16

I echo what Linda says, please don't pay more than you need to.

However, they are slightly cheaper at SOME of the local register offices and sometimes the certificates they give you are your ancestor's real signatures whereas the GRO copies are always just that - copies.

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 31 Dec 2010 13:20

You may wish to explore these sites:

http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 31 Dec 2010 15:11

In answer to your original question No, you can't get the information without paying for the cert. You choose between the GRO or Register Office where the event was registered. Either way you have to pay for the cert.

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 31 Dec 2010 15:25

Hi Inspector, his question didn't actually mention paying for the cert or not paying for the cert (although you very well may be right about his intention)

If he is looking at getting certificates cheaper, then as an alternative with certain dates and certain areas he may be able to go to the local record office (not register office) and trawl through marriage, baptism and funeral records. Mine is in our local library.

Obviously it doesn't cover more recent periods and baptism and funeral records don't give the same info on the certs. However, i have been lucky with a few marriages (I'd narrowed down the year and quarter using free bmd and then the church by using lancashire bmd in my case). I was then able to trawl though the records for that church and quarter which wasn't hard and found my marriage. It gave pretty much what was on the marriage certificate.

It may not be that useful if he doesn't live near a record office that covers the area he's looking for.

I just paid 30p to print off the records and bob's your uncle. (again different record offices vary)

I've also been lucky with Lancashire opc (old parish clerks) which is getting better and better for that area in providing baptisms, marriages and funeral details. Again, the records don't always give all the details on the certs but sometimes gives enough information.

(There are other areas covered by the parish clerks too Andrew)

I've tended to buy certificates for ancestors but looked at these alternative sources for siblings and other relatives.