.: What are they?
.: Birth Certificates
.: Birth Indexes 1837 - 1911
.: Birth Indexes after 1911
.: Marriage Certificates
.: Marriage Indexes 1837 - 1912
.: Marriage Indexes after 1912
.: Death Certificates
.: Death Indexes 1837 - 1866
.: Death Indexes after 1866
.: Reference Checking: do you have the correct entry?
.: Details you will need to provide for searching the registers
.: How long does research take?
.: Prices
.: Recommended Reading

What are they?
    The Births and Deaths Registration Act and the Marriage Act of 1836 was passed by the British Government for the provision of recording the births, marriages and deaths of individuals in England (and Wales).
     Registration has always been compulsory, but failure to do so did not result in a penalty until 1874, hence a large number of early births went unregistered.

Birth certificates
Genealogy contents: Date, place of birth (full address or parish usually given), first name(s), last name of child, father's first name last name, mother's first name last name (any former surnames), father's profession, address and relationship of informant.

Birth Indexes 1837 - 1911
A Typical entry:
March 1857 Mary Ann Avery Plymouth 5b 123

You will note from this example that there are no identifying features to help deduce if this is the right individual or not; under the present system it is only possible to tell if it is the correct individual by ordering the certificate, however there is a reference checking system (see below) in place which allows the researcher to check points against an entry.

Reference Checking Entries from the Indexes of BMD; for more info roll mouse over the Tip icon.

Birth Indexes after 1911
Entries are the same as 1837 - 1911, but have the added benefit of the inclusion of the mother's maiden last name; this is very useful in identifying children belonging to certain couples.

Marriage Certificates
Genealogy contents: Full names of bride and groom, their parish of residence or address, marital status, actual age/full age*/minor, date of marriage, name of church or registry office where couple married, whether they married by Licence/Banns, father's full name, father's profession (deceased father's are also noted), signatures or marks of couple, signatures or marks of two or more witnesses.
*'Full' meant aged 21 or above.

Marriages Indexes 1837 - 1912
A Typical entry:
June 1877 Mary Ann Avery Camberwell 1d 123
(For an explanation see Births above).

Marriage Indexes after 1912
The Spouse's surname is included in the indexes alongside the bride/groom's name.
E.g December 1918 Dorothy Gladys Snoding         Wynes         Hackney 1c 239
(She married William Wynes).

Death Certificates
What do they contain: Date, place, cause of death, name and sex of the deceased, age and profession (or rank), name, relationship and address of informant.

Death Indexes 1837 - 1866
A Typical entry:
December 1845 Edward Holman   Totnes  5b 349
(For an explanation see Births above).

Death Indexes after 1866
From 1866 an Age at death is included in the indexes; however family historians should note that ages are often wrong and should allow a year or two either side when calculating a year of birth.

Details you will need to provide for searching the Births, Marriages and Death Indexes
The more information you provide the more successful your search is likely to be and also the more cost effective. Try and provide as much detail as possible, chief amongst the following are: Full and correct name, date of event (try and avoid wild approximations), place of event, parents full names for birth applications, subjects age for death applications.
E = Full and Correct Name
E = Date of Event
E = Parish or town where event took place (Please do not put 'England')
E = Parents names for Birth applications.
E = Age at Death for Death applications.
D = Spouses full name for Marriage applications.
D = Childrens names if known for Marriage applications.
D = Siblings names if known for Birth applications.

E = Essential     D = Desirable

How long will my research take?
This will vary depending on length and difficulty of project and size of investment, standard services range from seven Working days to twenty-one Working days. An express service as available at £40 per certificate.

Price Nav Bar Link

Recommended Reading
The Family Record's Centre: a user's guide
Explore your family's past: trace your roots and create a family tree
Track down your ancestors: draw up your family tree