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.

For a fee, you can obtain a certified copy of birth, death or marriage entry from the district register office in which the event took place.

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

Applications can be made in the following ways

• By post. Print the relevant form from the bottom of this page. Send the completed form with the appropriate fee (cheques of postal orders should be made payable to Worcestershire County Council), to Worcester Register Office
• In person at Worcester Register Office, by appointment only
• By credit or debit card over the telephone to Worcester Register office
• Applying and paying online.

What is the current fee?

From the current register of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages: £3.50
For a long certificate a deposited (or old) register held by the Superintendent Registrar: £7.00
For a short certificate from a deposited register held by the Superintendent Registrar: £5.50

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.

How long will it take?

The Service aims to respond to requests for copy certificates - by post, personal callers and telephone where credit card details are provided as soon as possible.

The Service aims to respond to all requests for copy certificates for family history research as soon as possible.

What if I am adopted?

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

Birth, death and marriage records before 1st July 1837?

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.

Application Forms

Purchase the following items online

Birth Certificate Information required:- Full name at birth. Date and place of birth. Parent(s) name(s) including mother's maiden surname (if any) Civil Partnership Certificate Death Certificate Information required:- Full name of the deceased. Date and place of death, date of birth (if known). Include the maiden surname for a woman (if any) Marriage Certificate Information required:- Full names of both parties at the time of the marriage. Date and place of marriage.

Application forms to download

• Birth Certificate  (37.45 KB)
• Death Certificate  (33.97 KB)
• Marriage Certificate  (28.29 KB)

If you would prefer to contact the General Register Office for a copy of a certificate the contact telephone number is: 0845 603 7788 or via the website www.gro.gov.uk