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Tel: 01522-552222 | Contact the County Council

Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates

Where can I get a certificate from?

The registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales began on 1 July 1837. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire have different systems.

The country is divided into registration districts. Each has its own Superintendent Registrar, who is responsible for the original registers belonging to the district. They contain the records of births, marriages and deaths from 1 July 1837.

If you know the area where the event took place, you need to apply to the Superintendent Registrar of that district.  The Superintendent Registrar will give you a certified copy of that entry from his/her records. There is a charge for this service (see section below).

We have a list of towns and villages which come under the Lincolnshire Registration District. Check this list if you are unsure if the event took place in Lincolnshire (see the ‘Also of Interest’ section on this page).
If it was elsewhere in England or Wales, contact us and we can advise you further.

How do I obtain a birth, death or marriage certificate?

If the event took place in Lincolnshire (not including North and North-East Lincolnshire):
You can now apply online for your certificate. All you need to do is follow this link.

You can also apply by telephone - see the Contact Information section on this page. Please have your credit/debit card details handy when phoning.

Applications can also be made by post. You can download the application forms from the Downloads section on this page.

We aim to dispatch your order within five working days.  Please try and supply as much information as you can.

If you’re posting your application, don't forget to include the relevant fee and a stamped addressed envelope for the reply.

How much do the certificates cost?

Standard birth, death and marriage certificates cost £7.00.  They show all the information as it is held in the register for that entry.  You will need to apply for a standard certificate to obtain a passport and for most other official uses.

Fees must be given at the time of application. If we are unable to trace the entry, your fee will be returned. Credit/Debit card payments will be refunded directly to your card. Cheques will be returned in the post.

What if I don't know the relevant date(s)?

If you’re unsure of the exact date of the event, we can search two years either side of a chosen date.  It is not possible for staff to carry out indefinite searches on your behalf.  Alternatively, you can apply to carry out your own search of the indexes available for a specific district.  You must book your visit in advance. There is a fee payable for this service. The fee covers any number of successive hours (not exceeding six) spent searching.
Please note: You cannot search the registers themselves. You only have access to the limited information available in the indexes.

What if I don't know the district?

You can apply by post to the General Register Office in Southport (see the Weblinks section on this page). They hold the records of births, deaths and marriages for the whole of England and Wales from 1837 to the present day. Different charges are applicable.

If you’re able to visit London the Family Records Centre at 1 Myddleton Street has indexes for the whole of England and Wales available for public searches.

Further details about getting certificates and searching are available on the Family Records Centre website (see the Weblinks section on this page).

What if the event was before 1837?

Events before 1837 are often held in the form of church baptism, marriage and burials. These are usually looked after by local archives.  Visit the Lincolnshire Archives website for more information and further details.

Please note: the e-mail address given in the Contact Information section on this page is for general enquiries only. You will need to make an application and pay the fee for us to perform a search for you.

Last Updated: 9 October 2009

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