You can order birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership and death certificates from the General Register Office (GRO) to help you research your family history and family tree.
GRO has all the records registered in England and Wales from July 1837. You’ll need to look at parish records to trace back further.
It also has some other records, starting at a later date, for example for civil partnerships and adopted children. You can check which records are held by the GRO.
How to order a certificate
You can order a copy of a birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership and death certificate from GRO.
All births, adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths registered in England or Wales have a GRO index reference number.
Find index reference numbers online
You can:
- search the GRO online Index of historic births (1837 to 1916) and deaths (1837 to 1957)
- view index reference numbers for free on the FreeBMD website
Commercial companies also have the index reference numbers online, but you’ll have to pay to search them and prices will vary.
Find index reference numbers in person
You can also search for free at:
- the Library of Birmingham
- Bridgend Local and Family History Centre
- the City of Westminster Archives Centre
- Manchester Central Library
- Newcastle City Library
- Plymouth Central Library
- The British Library (you’ll need to register first)
These are the only complete copies of the full sets of index reference numbers. They’re on microfiche.
Some of the index reference numbers are available at local libraries, archives and other locations.
Overseas records
GRO has records of births, marriages and deaths of some British citizens that have taken place abroad since the late 18th century.
These include births, marriages or deaths:
- registered by the armed forces
- recorded by British consulates or high commissions
- at sea, or on British oil or gas rigs or aircraft
Divorce or civil partnership dissolution records
For copies of a decree absolute or final order of the dissolution of a civil partnership, you’ll need to contact either:
- the court where the divorce or dissolution was granted
- the Principal Registry of the Family Division
Principal Registry of the Family Division
First Avenue House
42-49 High Holborn
London
WC1V
6NP
Further information
You can also search local archives and the National Archives to help research your family history.
The GRO’s guides to researching your family tree include details of the information you’ll find on certificates, and what to do if you cannot find a certificate.
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- Texas Vital Records
Vital records document life events such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce. To order records online, you’ll need to have a valid ID, complete an online application, and pay a fee.
Our state agencies can help you get the vital
records you need. Only you, your immediate family members, and certain individuals with legal authority can request your vital records. Get copies or change a record A birth
certificate is a certified copy of a birth record. Order a copy by: Providing valid identification, Filling out an application, and Paying a fee. Order birth certificates online Order a copy of a death certificate by providing a valid ID, filling out an application online, by mail or
in-person, and paying a fee. Order death certificates online A verification letter indicates if a birth or death is on file in Texas. The record, if available, will include the name, date of birth or death, and county of birth or
death.
Order birth or death verification letters Payment methods vary based on order request (online, by mail or in-person). Acceptable forms of payment include: Check or cashier's check, Money order, and Credit or debit card. Learn how to order
certificates If a birth happened in Texas and it wasn’t registered within the first year, you can ask for a delayed birth certificate. Register a delayed birth certificateFind vital record services and information
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Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
- Birth and death certificates and verifications
- Marriage and divorce verifications
- Disinterment permits and heirloom certificates