Birth, Marriage and Death Civil Registration Indexes and Certificates
There has been a national register of births, marriages and deaths maintained since 1837 in England and Wales (1855 in Scotland). Registration of these three events became compulsory in 1874. The events are registered with local registrars who periodically submit copies of their recent registrations to the national register. Indexes to the national register are maintained and are available to study in London or on microfiche and microfilm in various local record offices, libraries, LDS centres and local family history centres.
Sometimes identification of an individual through the index entry may suffice. If not the full event certificate can be obtained either from the national registration office of from the appropriate local registrars office. Certificates give details of name, age, parentage, address etc., and are a useful but relatively expensive way to gain information.
Copies of, or details from, original certificates can often be obtained from family members who hold the 'family papers'.
