Birth, Death and Marriage certificates provide the following information:

1. Birth Certificates: When and where born, Name, Sex, Name and Surname of Father, Name and maiden Surname of Mother, Occupation of Father, Signature/ description / residence of informant, when registered.
   
   
2. Marriage Certificates: Date, Name of Bride / Groom, Ages, Status i.e Bachelor, Spinster, Widower, Occupation, Residence at time of marriage, Fathers names of Bride / Groom, Occupations of Fathers, Name of Church, Name of Minister, Witnesses to Marriage.
   
   
3. Death Certificates: When and where died, Name / Surname, Sex, Age, Cause of death, Signature / description and residence of informant, when registered.
   

How to obtain certificates

• Apply direct to General Register Office - now part of O.N.S (Office for National Statistics) For fees see - http://www.statistics.gov.uk/nsbase/registration/certe_w/fees.asp#howto
  
  
• Apply direct to the local Register Office which holds the registers where the event took place.This assumes that you know the right one. The Registration District is on the GRO index if you have access to it. For a list of Register Offices see - http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/RegOffice/
  
  
• Use the services of an agent.
  

How to spend less money on certificates

Birth, Death and Marriage certificates are expensive for what they are just "fancy bits of paper". Here is some advice about how to reduce the expense as much as possible.

1. Consider obtaining the information from different sources. Certificates are a means to an end and there may be different ways of finding the information you want. Parish Registers ... Records of baptisms,marriages and burials. These contain much the same information as the civil record. It is obviously necessary to know the Church where the event took place but this may be indicated on the IGI entry anyway. These Parish Registers are available in County Record Offices. Consider whether to use an agent to take an inexpensive photocopy or transcription of the record IGI Entries ... see www.familysearch.org - The record you want may be listed on IGI. It is also worth checking to see whether LDS have filmed the Parish Register concerned. This could then be ordered and checked against IGI.
   
   
2. Use the relevant local Register office if known to check details before buying the certificate. They will usually check for free if you have a doubt whether your ancestors entry is the right one. The GRO will also do this but will charge for it. For example, if you are looking for John Mellor born 1851, Leicester and have found two possibilities you can write to ask whether there is a "match". You may know his address or the names of his Parents. They will check for you and save you the cost of buying two certificates.
   
   
3. Use caution if ordering from GRO - their rates are more expensive than ordering from local Register Offices. They will not send the certificate if their is any doubt. e.g. If there are identical names found or if the details you've sent don't match exactly - name spelt slightly differently. If this happens an admin fee will be charged.
   
   
4. Consider ordering from local Register Offices or using an agent. As already noted there are advantages in dealing with local Register Offices, their rates are cheaper £6.50 per cert and they will check and carry out a five year search for free. Most however don't have an e mail address and are not up to accepting dollar cheques. Consider asking a willing friend / relation living in the UK to help you here if possible. Alternatively consider using an agent, he / she will obtain certificates at a reasonable amount and if necessary ensure beforehand that it is the right one. Rates are similar whoever you use, but my rates are at least as good if not better than others.
   

The next article on is on census returns, 1841 - 1901. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Phil Westwood is a provides a genealogical service enabling Americans and Canadians to research their English ancestors. Email him for additional information.