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Topic: GRO or local office? (Read 344 times)
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stanmapstone
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 6573
My answers only refer to England and Wales
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The GRO do not have access to the original certificates, what they have are certified copies, sent as the quarterly returns, which are known to have errors and omissions . Some local Register Offices provide photocopies of the original marriage certificates, which have the original handwriting.
If the certificate is from the GRO then it is "Certified to be a true copy of an entry in the certified copy of a Register of [.......] in the District above mentioned"
If you get it from the local Register Office then it says "Certified to be a true copy of an entry in a register in my custody."
The statutory fee for a certificate is £7, but some local offices charge a 'handling' fee as well.
Stan
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lesleyhannah
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 1070
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It also depends on the local office. I've found the Hull office has always been brilliant - the certificates come back almost by return of post. They are also very helpful about finding the right certificate if you're not sure which person to choose from the index. Whereas the GRO charges for checking a particular certificate, I've always found that if I order a certificate from Hull and say (for example) Mary Smith whose father was Joseph, they will return my cheque in full if they can't find that particular birth. Maybe Yorkshire people are just naturally friendly?
However, the last certificate I got from them included a notice that in future they would charge 50p postage per certificate (which is clearly not necessary if you're getting 2 at the same time) - the GRO includes postage in the £7, so I might go back to using them as I do often order several certificates at the same time.
There are also some local offices that are offhand to the point of rudeness and some that seem to take ages to send out the certificates. You soon get to know which they are.
One point that probably doesn't worry more professional researchers is that although there are lots of advantages to getting the original, complete with inkblots and original handwriting, those old long certificates don't fit into A4 files (amongst other things).
So I think it's a matter of trying out your local office and seeing what sort of a service they offer.
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stanmapstone
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 6573
My answers only refer to England and Wales
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Just to add that some local offices will not deal with family history requests, and others will only supply marriage certificates if you know the church where the marriage took place. Some local Register offices are now charging £8 for copy certificates, including Newcastle upon Tyne and Salford City Council.
Stan
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kerryb
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 11957
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The last time I looked at my local council they were charging £11 per certificate.
I stuck with GRO 
Kerry
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for my family - Baldwin - Sussex, Middlesex, Cork, Pilbeam - Sussex, Harmer - Sussex, Terry - Surrey, Kent, Rhoades - Lincs, Roffey - Surrey, Traies - Devon & Middlesex & many many more to be found on my website .... www.kerrysfamilyhistory.co.uk |
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stanmapstone
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 6573
My answers only refer to England and Wales
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The only place I can see that charges £11 is Northern Ireland  The statutory fee for a certificate in England and Wales is £7, if this is where your local council is what is the extra £4 for 
Stan
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lesleyhannah
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 1070
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Maybe it's for 'extras'? As I said, Hull is going to charge 50p postage per certificate, irrespective of how many you order at once. They have also increased the price to £8 for certificates ready within 24 hours (I assume that's for people who pick them up personally - I'd have to add the time taken in the post). Certificates ready within 5 days remain £7 - again, I imagine it's 5 days plus second class postage. Given that they used to offer a first-class service it does now mean I'll have to choose to pay more, or wait longer - or order from the GRO.
£11 sounds a bit of a try-on to me. If people are daft enough to pay it then they'll carry on charging it.
I wonder if this sudden increase in prices has got anything to do with the even higher prices charged by ancestry for ordering certificates on customers' behalf? Has anyone actually taken advantage of this 'offer'?
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stanmapstone
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 6573
My answers only refer to England and Wales
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The GRO have Priority 24 hour service excluding weekends and Bank Holidays
Full certificate with GRO index reference supplied £23.00
Full certificate £26.00
Additional full certificate issued at same time £7.00
Stan
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kerryb
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 11957
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The only place I can see that charges £11 is Northern Ireland The statutory fee for a certificate in England and Wales is £7, if this is where your local council is what is the extra £4 for Stan
Kerry
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for my family - Baldwin - Sussex, Middlesex, Cork, Pilbeam - Sussex, Harmer - Sussex, Terry - Surrey, Kent, Rhoades - Lincs, Roffey - Surrey, Traies - Devon & Middlesex & many many more to be found on my website .... www.kerrysfamilyhistory.co.uk |
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kerryb
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 11957
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They have changed the cost.
It is now £7 per certificate but there is an additional £3 per certificate if paying by credit or debit card.
Kerry
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for my family - Baldwin - Sussex, Middlesex, Cork, Pilbeam - Sussex, Harmer - Sussex, Terry - Surrey, Kent, Rhoades - Lincs, Roffey - Surrey, Traies - Devon & Middlesex & many many more to be found on my website .... www.kerrysfamilyhistory.co.uk |
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MarieC
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3298
In Queensland, Oz
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 That's the proportionally highest card fee I've seen anywhere, Kerry!
Obviously there are various creative ways to get round having to charge the statutory fee! 
MarieC
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Martins in London and Wales, Lockwoods in Yorkshire, Hartleys in London, Lichfield and Brighton, Hubands and Smiths in Ireland, Bentleys in London and Yorkshire, Denhams in Somerset, Scoles in London, Meyers in London, Cooks in Northumberland
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