Where best to order a marriage certificate

[earley-bird]

Hi all

I need to order a few marriage certs if I am to progress my tree any further.

Where would you suggest is the best place to order online at the moment ?

I remember reading a thread recently saying how slow some of the sources are at the moment. 

[Ticker]

Hi Earley-Bird

I would suggest you use the GRO at http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate/index.asp#0

They may be a little on the slow side at the moment but mine are still coming through within 2 weeks.

Best wishes

Ticker

[D ap D]

I always order mine at the local registrar, not the GRO.

My philosophy is, once you get to know the local registrar, having ordered a few certificates, he/she is more likely to make a little more effort to help find the certificates. He/she is also more likely to have a better local knowledge, so if you're not exactly sure of an address or parish for example, he/she will be able to help.

The applications with the registrar are usually processed quicker than the GRO as they have amuch smaller number to deal with.

On the other hand, some registrars are less helpful than others.

[earley-bird]

what if you need to order just a few from registras all over the country and 100s miles from where you live and it has to be done by post or telephone.?

[Ticker]

what if you need to order just a few from registras all over the country and 100s miles from where you live and it has to be done by post or telephone.?

That's the beauty of the GRO! 

Best wishes

Ticker

[moiramount]

I HAVE ORDERED QUITE A FEW FROM GRO & ITS TAKEN 2/3WKS PLUS IF ITS THE WRONG CERT THEY KEEP £4 OF YOUR £8.50 IF YOU ORDER FROM YOUR REGISTER OFFICE ITS ONLY £ 7 & MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY WILL SEARCH A FEW YEARS FOR YOU. YOU CAN GET THE REGISTER OFFICE ADDRESSES FOR EACH TOWN YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, THERE IS A FULL LIST ON FREEBMD, IT TELLS YOU THE AREAS IT COVERS. ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDANT REGISTRAR & YOU WILL HAVE IT BACK IN A FEW DAYS. IF THEY DON'T FIND IT THEY WILL REFUND ALL YOUR MONEY NOT JUST HALF LIKE THE GRO.

                     MOIRA

[earley-bird]

thank you both for your suggestions I can see advantages with both 
I think I may try both as I have two certs to order immediately. Then I'll see which is quicker. 
I like the idea of a full refund it could save quite a bit of money in the long run.
thank you both
Nick

[earley-bird]

Mmmm errrr  How do you find out where the registry ofice is located for a given area when the Parish boundaries have changed several times in the past 10 years + ?
Even bigger problem the entry is unreadable see here.It took some finding

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl
Edwin Charles Ea*  vol 2 pg 227 ?

(Edwin Charles Earley) DOB 27.01.1848  Moorgate

[moiramount]

HELLO AGAIN, I HAVE JUST HAD A LOOK ON 1837ONLINE & IT GIVES THE NAME & DISTRICT AS LONDON, THERE IS AN INITIAL OR SOMETHING BEFORE IT BUT I CANNOT MAKE IT OUT. LOOKING AT YOUR NAMES, I SEE EARLEY'S ARE FROM HOLBORN, IS EDWIN FROM HOLBORN, IF SO THE REGISTERS ARE DIVIDED BETWEEN ISLINGTON & CAMDEN, ADDRESSES ARE AS FOLLOWS

ISLINGTON
TOWN HALL, UPPER ST, LONDON N1 2UD TELE 02075276347

CAMDEN
TOWN HALL, JUDD ST, LONDON WC1 H9J8 TELE 02079741900

IF YOU WRITE TO THE REGISTER OFFICES FOR CERTS YOU DO NOT NEED THE REFERENCE NUMBER, YOU HAVE HIS DATE OF BIRTH & WHERE BORN, SO IT SHOULD BE EASY.

                 MOIRA