FAQs
BMDs and certificates
How complete are the findmypast.co.uk BMD indexes?
We offer an entire copy of the indexes of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales from 1837 to 2006.
Findmypast.co.uk has recently completed an exciting project to digitise over a quarter of a billion birth records. The images are available online and are now fully indexed on findmypast.co.uk. This means that instead of having to view a number of records to find your ancestor, you should now be able to view them directly from the search results. We're working on fully indexing the marriage and death records and expect to complete this project by the end of the year.
You should view the original image to double check it's the person you've searched for. The birth, marriage and death records from 1984 onwards were recorded in a computer database only so there is no original image for records post-1984.
The overseas births, marriages and deaths are the full set held by the GRO, but this is not a comprehensive list of all the births, marriages and deaths of British subjects overseas. British nationals abroad are not obliged to register these events with the British consulate, and only the events that are registered with the consulate get included.
The GRO has not updated the indexes since 2006.
Can I search the birth, marriage, and death indexes by volume and page?
No. You cannot search the findmypast.co.uk birth, marriage, and death indexes by volume and page number.
Can I narrow down my birth, marriage, and death searches by name?
You can narrow England and Wales birth, marriage, and death searches for the period 1837 to 1983 by forename and surname, but you will need to check the relevant registry-book image for each quarter to discover whether the name appears.
For the period 1984 to 2006 you can (where relevant) search by forename, surname, mother\"s maiden name, birth date, middle initial, spouse's surname, and district. The BMDs for this period were recorded in a computer database so you will only receive matching results.
For the overseas records it is possible to search by surname, but as with the England and Wales 1837-1983 BMDs you will need to check each registry book image, and we cannot guarantee that the name you have searched for will feature.
Why is the name I entered not on the BMD index page?
The 1837-1983 BMD records comprise indexed images of the original registry book pages – the records have not been transcribed.
The search will therefore return a list of pages that may contain the entry you have searched for. You will need to check each image to discover whether the name appears, and if there were no registrations for that name in that quarter then it will not.
See our Knowledge Base for more help on troubleshooting and searching.
I have the district, volume and page for a birth, marriage, or death record. What do I do with this?
With the index information you can purchase a certificate online, by post or telephone. Find out more.
Can I view and print birth, marriage and death certificates on findmypast.co.uk?
Birth, marriage, and death certificates cannot be viewed online. But you can obtain copy-certificates from the General Register Office (GRO), the government body that holds official information on births, marriages, and deaths (BMDs).
How do I order certificates?
Certificates can be ordered online, by post, email, or phone from the GRO. See our page on ordering certificates online or contact the GRO using the details below.
GRO contact details:
Certificate Services Section
General Register Office
PO Box 2
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 2JD
Email: certificate.services@ips.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 603 7788 or (international) +44 845 603 7788
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm GMT
Saturday 9am to 4pm GMT
Who do I contact if there’s a problem with my certificate order?
If you have any problems with your certificate order, please contact the GRO directly.
Can I order a certificate if I live overseas?
Yes. Overseas residents are able to order certificates online direct from the GRO site.
How do I order military and overseas certificates?
You can order military and overseas certificates in the same way as domestic ones. See the GRO site for details.
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