Copy Certificates

The official recording of births, deaths and marriages began on 1st July 1837. These events are recorded in registers, which once full, are deposited with a Superintendent Registrar for the district register office in which the event took place.

There are many district register offices in England and Wales each holding locally completed registers. In addition to these locally held records, a central record is held by the General Register Office.

You can obtain a certified copy of birth, death or marriage that took place in the county of Worcestershire district as it stands today (fee and service option charge):

• Order online
• By credit or debit card over the telephone on 0845 603 2859
• For copy certificates for Worcesteshire church or chapel marriages, which have recently taken place call 0845 603 2859 before ordering
• In person at Worcester Register Office, by appointment only
• By post. Print the relevant form from the bottom of this page. Send the completed form with the appropriate (cheques or postal orders should be made payable to Worcestershire County Council), to Worcester Register Office, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP

Please note: A short birth certificate details the persons name and date of birth but NOT the parents details. If you require a birth certificate for a passport application, job application or for financial reasons  you must obtain a full birth certificate.

The Service aims to respond to requests for copy certificates - by post, personal callers and telephone where credit card details are despatched within 5 working days.

The Service aims to respond to all requests for copy certificates for family history research within 7 working days

District borders have changed over the years and you may find that once what was Worcestershire is now another district, for example Dudley is now a district of its own whereas once it was part of Worcestershire and Tenbury Hospital is in the district of Shropshire (see link below) and therefore applications will need to be made to them.

Within Worcestershire, all registers are held in our central repository at the Register Office in County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester

If you require a copy of your adopted birth entry, you should apply to the General Register Office in Southport

Events before the 1st July 1837 may have been recorded in Church Baptismal, Marriage and Burial registers. Worcestershire Family History Centre holds many records, which may be useful.

If you are in any doubt please contact us on 0845 603 2859.

Links to neighbouring authorities

Shropshire County Council