Pam Downes
11-03-2010, 01:00 PM
Other changes are happening too. (And hopefully I've understood what the very helpful lady at the GRO told me!)
From the GRO website
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
Please note in addition that GRO have reviewed the range of services which we currently offer. We have been advised that there is no clear remit in statute for charging for a service to check additional index references, or to retain partial fees. In order to ensure full legal compliance, and in view of the fact that we cannot afford to offer this service free of charge, we are regretfully withdrawing our reference checking service from 6 April. This will include the withdrawal of the "checking points".
If you have no reference but want to order online then you have to give:
For births: Name, place, date of birth and parents' name(s).
For marriages: Bride and groom, place (i.e. name of church/chapel/register office), and date.
For deaths: Name, place, and date.
The good news is, that if no certificate is found with those precise details then you get a full refund.
If you have no reference, and either none or only some of the above details you have to order by phone or post.
Based on the details given, the GRO will then do an up-to three-year search. If you say 'born Lincolnshire 1864' then they would probably search that year plus March quarter 1865.
You do need to be aware that they will only search for the first six entries for a name within the time period, so the more you can narrow down a date/place/parents' names the better.
e.g. if you say John Smith born Liverpool about 1864 and there are ten John Smiths registered in Liverpool in March quarter 1864 you've had it, as only the first six will be checked. So you need to be able to give further information such as parents' names - and ideally the mother's maiden name. That should give you a chance of them checking at least one John Smith in every quarter. If you don't know the mother's maiden name for certain (how many times have both the brides on the same page been called Mary?) then you could send in one application quoting one surname, and a further application quoting the other. Whichever one doesn't agree you get a full refund on.
Currently the search is for a six-year period, but as from 6th April that will be reduced to three years.
So basically, if you want to use 'checking points' then you have to order by phone or post. You can still be specific, and say John Smith birth registered Liverpool registration district March quarter 1864, father John mother Mary possible maiden name Brown, and you will get the ordinary 15-day service. And if the details don't match, then you get a full refund.
Hope this is clear, and that it helps.
Pam
From the GRO website
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
Please note in addition that GRO have reviewed the range of services which we currently offer. We have been advised that there is no clear remit in statute for charging for a service to check additional index references, or to retain partial fees. In order to ensure full legal compliance, and in view of the fact that we cannot afford to offer this service free of charge, we are regretfully withdrawing our reference checking service from 6 April. This will include the withdrawal of the "checking points".
If you have no reference but want to order online then you have to give:
For births: Name, place, date of birth and parents' name(s).
For marriages: Bride and groom, place (i.e. name of church/chapel/register office), and date.
For deaths: Name, place, and date.
The good news is, that if no certificate is found with those precise details then you get a full refund.
If you have no reference, and either none or only some of the above details you have to order by phone or post.
Based on the details given, the GRO will then do an up-to three-year search. If you say 'born Lincolnshire 1864' then they would probably search that year plus March quarter 1865.
You do need to be aware that they will only search for the first six entries for a name within the time period, so the more you can narrow down a date/place/parents' names the better.
e.g. if you say John Smith born Liverpool about 1864 and there are ten John Smiths registered in Liverpool in March quarter 1864 you've had it, as only the first six will be checked. So you need to be able to give further information such as parents' names - and ideally the mother's maiden name. That should give you a chance of them checking at least one John Smith in every quarter. If you don't know the mother's maiden name for certain (how many times have both the brides on the same page been called Mary?) then you could send in one application quoting one surname, and a further application quoting the other. Whichever one doesn't agree you get a full refund on.
Currently the search is for a six-year period, but as from 6th April that will be reduced to three years.
So basically, if you want to use 'checking points' then you have to order by phone or post. You can still be specific, and say John Smith birth registered Liverpool registration district March quarter 1864, father John mother Mary possible maiden name Brown, and you will get the ordinary 15-day service. And if the details don't match, then you get a full refund.
Hope this is clear, and that it helps.
Pam