death certificate

[fizzybubble]

Do you have to show a birth certificate to get a death certificate or can a relative just tell the details orally.

Fizzy

[Welsh Jen]

No you do not need the birth certificate. All you normally need to do if you are purchasing the certificate from the local registrar (where your ancestor was born / married / died) is to fill out an application form stating all of their particulars that you are aware of and they will search for the death entry. They need to know their full name and at least quarter and year that they died.

Hope this clarifies.
Regards Jen 

[fizzybubble]

Its actually the birth cert I am having problems with. I have the exact date of birth and was told the place was Bournemouth but they say they cannot find it. They told me to get the death certificate and that would tell me where he was born. But the details on the death cert were likely to have been provided by the same person who told me the birth details, so unless a birth cert had to be shown for the death cert I will be no further forward and will be £7 out of pocket.

What do you think ?

Fizzy

[casalguidi]

Hi Fizzy

If the same person who told you the birth details is the same person who registered the death then, as you say, it is quite likely the same information.  Who are you looking for and when/where did they die?

A birth certificate wasn't always a requisite for registering a death.

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[fizzybubble]

The person is William Scott and he died at Yeovil Somerset in December 1979.

He was born 27.03.1903 and I was told that was at Bournemouth but Bournemouth Registry ofiice say they cant find it. Mind you I asked for a marriage too and gave them the date and that was def Bournemouth and they cant find that either !!!! the girl said its because they are not computerised !!!!

Fizzy

[Little Nell]

Hi Fizzy,

This is always the problem with the information provided by the informant of a death.  The only person who could provide the correct information (consistently that is) is the person who is now dead.  

You may need to check out both Dorset and Hampshire references for the birth certificate - the boundaries changed.  Have a look at the Genuki page ( http://www.genuki.org.uk) for further information.

Nell

[casalguidi]

Hi Fizzy

I assume that you have got the date of birth from the GRO index (post 1969)?

If it continues to post such a problem, is there not a known sibling whose details you could trace which might lead you to him?

It's no surprise that Bournemouth couldn't supply you with a marriage as (like many other registry offices)  they would have had to search through the register of every church & chapel in their district - quite some task!  Imagine doing that yourself!

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[fizzybubble]

William Scott was my hubby's grandad. I got his date of birth from his daughter (hubby's Mum). He was a base child so there were no siblings.

I have looked on the GRO via 1837online and cannot find a plain William Scott (no middle names) born anywhere near Bournemouth at that time. Perhaps the birth was never registered but then how did he manage all through life without a birth cert for things like work and pensions ?

Fizzy

[casalguidi]

Hi Fizzy

I would check the death indexes on 1837online just to make sure that his date of birth as given in the death index is the same - it will be in the index.

If he was baseborn I suppose there's always the possibility that he was registered with another surname.  Have you tried searching freebmd with forenames William Scott without a surname?  It's just an idea.

Again, there is always the possibility that his daughter wasn't properly sure where he was born - maybe not even William himself - it happens!

Best wishes

Casalguidi