Research your family history using the General Register Office
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.
There’s a different process for getting certificates in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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, 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.
