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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Certacito on Friday 06 July 18 16:01 BST (UK)
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It's a long story but my wife thinks she may have a long lost brother. I have every detail of the child from Genes Reunited, Name, Mothers married name, Mothers maiden name, year he was born, 2nd quarter, volume, page, and line number. When I tried to request a birth cert online, it asked for date of birth and of course I couldn't give the exact one. I emailed the registry office involved and they told me to check the free BMD which ended in 1951. Great, until you realise he was born in 1964.
I phoned the registry office today and explained my predicament. The lady told me that I had to have a reference number and to look on the free BMD. I told her it was pointless as it only went up to 1951. She had no answer to that but insisted I get a reference number.
Perhaps I am being a bit stupid but surely if I have every detail necessary then they should be able to provide me with a certificate without too much trouble? Personally I have been to registry offices and obtained certificates without all this hassle so why can't I get one this way?
Any thoughts or advice please?
Alan
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Alan
When you apply for a cert at www.gro.gov.uk , tick the yes box when asked if you have the reference, the site defaults to 'no'
then you don't have to give a date.
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as to the birth index, if you don't have an account with Ancestry or FindMyPast, register with a username and password at www.familysearch.org
You don't have to give a credit card number.
The LDS site will give you without charge the full details from the GRO birth, marriage and death indexes.
you can also use www.freebmd.org.uk to check for an entry but this is still a work in progress and some years aren't complete.
Also bear in mind the GRO site will not allow birth applications less than 50 years old, you have to phone and answer all the questions but you are OK as the birth is 54 years old.
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Somebody has been telling you porkies re FreeBMD!
I was born in 1953, and I'm there ;D
My brother was born in 1957, and he's there ;D
I've looked up many births, right up to 1983 (FreeBMD's closing date).
Looking at their coverage stats (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/progressB.shtml#y1950), there is 100% coverage of births up to the end of 1962.
1963 and 1964 have some gaps, but then it's 100% from 1965 to 1977.
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Both my son's are there,born well after we married in 1973. ;D
Carol
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Not normal Register Office procedure. Try ringing again and asking to speak to the Superintendent Registrar.
Melbell
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Thanks for the replies. I will look into this further and get back to you.
Alan
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Try Ancestry's indexes it's free 6-9 July 2018. Then purchase on GRO site.
Blue
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It's a long story but my wife thinks she may have a long lost brother. I have every detail of the child from Genes Reunited, Name, Mothers married name, Mothers maiden name, year he was born, 2nd quarter, volume, page, and line number. When I tried to request a birth cert online, it asked for date of birth and of course I couldn't give the exact one. I emailed the registry office involved and they told me to check the free BMD which ended in 1951. Great, until you realise he was born in 1964.
I phoned the registry office today and explained my predicament. The lady told me that I had to have a reference number and to look on the free BMD. I told her it was pointless as it only went up to 1951. She had no answer to that but insisted I get a reference number.
Perhaps I am being a bit stupid but surely if I have every detail necessary then they should be able to provide me with a certificate without too much trouble? Personally I have been to registry offices and obtained certificates without all this hassle so why can't I get one this way?
Any thoughts or advice please?
Alan
There is a slight chance the person might not appear on FreeBMD as 1964 is one of those years that is not complete (see https://www.freebmd.org.uk/progressB.shtml#y1950 ).
However that does matter to you as you seem to have all the details you need to order a certificate-
" I have every detail of the child from Genes Reunited, Name, Mothers married name, Mothers maiden name, year he was born, 2nd quarter, volume, page, and line number."
You don't mention if you have the District he was registered in which would help, but if not write or phone the GRO giving the details you have and the fee and they will send you the relevant certificate.
Don't take any notice of anyone who says you need the exact date legally you do not the GRO are under a legal obligation to search two years either side of the year supplied.
Cheers
Guy
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Thanks for the replies. I made one basic error. I trusted the link that the register office sent in an email. Have now searched the BMD and sure enough he is there but there is no other information than I already have. I can't understand why this woman who wasn't very helpful at all insisted I needed a reference number? I do have the district, just thought it best not to mention it, at least until I get what I need!
I'll get there through trial and error plus the very helpful people on here.
Alan
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Sorry to keep on but am getting frustrated with this so have decided to send a letter to the register office with all the details and a cheque. Can anyone tell me what a full birth certificate costs these days please?
I don't think it differs from place to place but just in case it is Stoke on Trent.
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If you obtain it via the official GRO site https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
It will cost you just £9-25,the turn around seems to be pretty quick at the moment.
Certs from local register offices(if the one in question still provides them,not all do) will be £10.
https://www.stoke.gov.uk/info/20011/births_marriages_and_deaths/77/apply_for_a_copy_of_a_birth_death_marriage_or_civil_partnership_certificate/2
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When applying to the GRO, you need to provide:
Year, Quarter, Registration District, Volume No and Page No.
When applying at a District Register Office you need to supply a different reference :-\
This varies by Registration District.
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Simples when you know how. Ordered one online and await with bated breath. Maybe a coincidence but we have to check. Thanks for everyone's help and advice. I'm learning!
Alan
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When applying to the GRO, you need to provide:
Year, Quarter, Registration District, Volume No and Page No.
When applying at a District Register Office you need to supply a different reference :-\
This varies by Registration District.
When you order from the GRO make sure you only put exactly what is in the GRO ref on FreeBMD.
We have often heard that if you make the slightest alteration,for example putting Anne instead of Ann,they'll tell you that a cert does not exist!!!
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Simples when you know how. Ordered one online and await with bated breath. Maybe a coincidence but we have to check. Thanks for everyone's help and advice. I'm learning!
Alan
Hope it proves to be the right person ;)
Please let us know.
Carol
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This thread shows just how many genealogists are content with putting up with not only a poor service from Registrars, Superintendent Registrars and the GRO but also content to allow them to get away with illegal practices.
All the above offices have no option but to provide the required certificate to anyone who wishes to purchase a certificate and who furnishes enough information for the registrar etc. to locate the correct entry in the register.
There is no requirement in law to provide any specific information to enable them to do that but common sense tells us that identifying details such as forename and surname, year of birth and place of birth improve the chance of being supplied with the correct certificate.
It has been suggested that some local offices do not provide certificates.
That practice is unlawful, all Registrars, Superintendent Registrars and the GRO have a legal obligation to supply requested certificates from registers in their keeping, that is their main reason for existing.
If you do not believe this write to the Registrar General in person and ask him (Mark Thomson, but they change every 4 or so years and he has been in place since 2015).
Don't let lazy Registrars ruin the Civil Registration System.
Cheers
Guy
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Sorry to keep on but am getting frustrated with this so have decided to send a letter to the register office with all the details and a cheque. Can anyone tell me what a full birth certificate costs these days please?
I don't think it differs from place to place but just in case it is Stoke on Trent.
Apologies if this information is redundant or I'm teaching granny how to suck eggs, but I've only just now dropped into this thread and haven't seen any mention of this method so far.
Have you researched the person's birth on the Staffs BMD website (http://www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk)?
If you have, did you find the person in question? If you did, there's a reference number on the search result listing and you can create an order form with instructions from the number.
Click on the reference number and a tab should open in your browser with the list of those you've clicked.
Go to that tab and click on the reference number there. You'll be shown a postal request form which already has details of the person and reference number, together with instructions how to pay and the address in Hanley to send the form to. All you do is complete your details and send it off with £10.
Apparently, you only have to include the date of birth and some other info if you want a short certificate, otherwise you only get the full version, which seems a little odd but never mind.