Certificate services

Plymouth Registration Service holds:

• the registers for all births and deaths and civil marriages that have occurred within the Plymouth boundaries since 1837
• the marriage registers from churches, chapels mosques and synagogues (registered for marriage) within the Plymouth boundaries are deposited with us once they have been filled or marriages that took place in a religious building without a register will be recorded in the register office registers dating back to 1837

Provided we have sufficient information to identify an entry in a register, we are able to issue certified copies (certificates).

Entries in the registers are identified through a manual or computerised index of names. The indexes are organised according to area, sub-district or religious building.

To enable us to search for register entries we require certain information:

• Place, sub-district or church (this identifies a set of indexes)
• Date (this identifies the correct index book)
• Name (this identifies entry or entries)
• Forenames, name of spouse, partner or name of parent (this provides cross match to identify a correct entry)

Provided all this information is available and the register entry can be found, we aim to issue the certificate within five working days or next working day priority service.

If any of this information is missing a broader search is required. This is classified as a 'protracted search' and we aim to produce a certificate within 14 days, provided sufficient information is available to enable a search and the entry can be identified.

Application forms can be obtained from any register office or alternatively apply in writing, supplying these details with your name, address and contact telephone number either by post (with a cheque or postal order) or by email or fax, followed by a telephone call with your credit/debit card details (credit or debit cards must be registered to the applicant and the address the certificate will be sent to).

You may conduct a search of the public indexes in person. An appointment is required which will give you access to the indexes for one day. A member of staff will be allocated to retrieve the indexes you require, verify entries and produce certificates if your search is successful. Please contact the office for the current charges.

Civil partnership certificates may be obtained from the local authority register office where the civil partnership took place. A standard (full) certificate can be issued only where the applicant can provide the full address of both partners at the time of the civil partnership registration. Otherwise an extract certificate can be issued. An index of civil partnership registrations for each authority can be viewed upon request.

Please note that public registers and certificates are crown copyright and protected under Section 163 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 so they may not be lawfully reproduced. For the purposes of this guidance, the term copying includes: photocopying, scanning, filming, reproduction in any other media, including the placing of material on the internet.

Fees

Certificates requested before the time of registration and for 1 month after registration for both death and marriage - £3.50

Certificates requested after registration (for birth, death and marriage - 1 month after registration)

• Birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates from current registers (less than one month after the registration) - £3.50
• Extract birth - £5.50
• Extract civil partnership - £7
• Standard birth, death, marriage and civil partnership - £7
• Priority service per entry - £5

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