GRO Belfast

[HistoryTeam]

Within the last year or more we have applied for a number of birth/death record searches (£5.50ea) from the General Registry Office Belfast. In reply we received photocopies of the relevant birth/death certificates where they were found. Two recent applications, however, have resulted in just a letter with a summary of the details from the registry (there was an attachment we could return with a further £5.50 for a copy of the actual certificate). Is anyone aware that GRO Belfast have changed their procedure? The latest two applications were in relation to a birth and subsequent adoption - could this have made the difference?

[DixieDee]

Hi.
I've got a lot of the letters  from 1996/7, for searches, when we first contracted the genealogy bug. Never had a photocopy though. Started sending to Dublin GRO who will supply a photocopy, it's also cheaper. The letters have just enough info to get you interested and send for a certificate. You don't really need the certificate, just the information on it. Any certificates I have got from Belfast GRO had the information typed, not photocopied from the original Registers. May have changed now though.
Regards,
Dixie.

[HistoryTeam]

Thank you for your reply DixieDee.

We must have just been fortunate with previous applications.

Have you ever done a Registry search yourself actually at GRO? We have our first appointment in the near future and were wondering, in light of our postal experience, what form we will be given any birth/death registrations we manage to find. Do they give you print outs or do you just have to scribble the info down from the screen?

[Tees]

Hi,

You will be shown to the record room by one of the staff. Then a staff member will explain to you how to use the computer and how to get the information off the indexes.

You will be given the forms to pencil the information in.

For a tenner (ten pounds), you can get 4 "free" look-ups in the actual register books on any entry you are interested in. Fifth look-up or more, you will be charged 2.50 pounds each look up.

They won't let you look at the register books freely. Sorry about that!

If you know which street your ancestor lived in Belfast, be sure to ask for the street indexes books as they will be able to pinpoint which registration district it falls in.

That's at the Belfast GRO.

As to the Dublin "GRO", well--you have to do it an old-fashioned way! Looking up in the indexes in the book format then you send for a particular index entry where they will make a photocopy of an actual entry. If it is correct, you get to keep it. If you get it wrong--you can keep it or throw it away with an understanding you are being charged for it.  It is often crowded--best to queue early in the morning BEFORE they open the doors.

A bit confusing in the beginning but you pick up on it relatively quick.

I think they charge you 20 euros for the whole business of looking up in the Indexes then 3 euros per photocopy (I am not sure about this one).

As to your original enquiry, is the birth & adoption recent one? Perhaps that is why you are given the letter?

Quite surprised you were given the letter, not the certificate. I always understand that if you have reference information--you are given the certificate at less rate.

I will enquire about this at the Belfast GRO via E-mail as I was going to order few entries from them.

Kind regards,

Tees

[RonnieG]

Hi,

In the Dublin GRO you pay 2 euros to look at the index books for a five year period and then 4 euros for each copy requested.

Alternatively pay 20 euros for one days unlimited access to the index books. However, you are only allowed a maximum of 5 copies "on demand", any additional requests will be posted to you.

I think you would need two people working together to make use of the 20 euro deal.

It can be busy but there's usually a seat available, but if someone else is using the index you want then you'll have to wait.

RonnieG

[HistoryTeam]

Thanks for all your help and advice folks - very much appreciated.

Could someone expand a little more on the 'verification' process please. The literature GRO Belfast sent indicated the first 4 are free and after that £2.50 ea up to a max of 10 at a time. But what does 'verification' entail? From the initial details found in the index by the researcher and copied to the form do GRO staff look up and print out a copy of the relevant certificate or what information (and in what form) does the researcher come away with?

Thanks for your patience.

[RonnieG]

Hi,

You should bear in mind that the Dublin GRO has records for the whole of Ireland including Belfast for BMD's up to December 1921.

You might find this link helpful:

http://www.gro.ie/research.htm

RonnieG

[Tees]

Hi,

Verification means you get to look at the actual entry of BMD in the register book to see if it is your ancestor/descendant you were seeking. In other words, is this a correct person?

You get four free verifications--let me give you an example:

You found a Robert Gunderson in 1923 Birth Indexes--it was in Sept Quarter in Belfast Urban No 23 but you are not sure if it is yours because there is another Robert Gunderson born in same quarter but in different registration district of Glenavy.

You think your Robert Gunderson was from Belfast so you copy off the information from the Indexes onto the form they give you.

One of the staff will look the reference information up and brings the correct register book to you so you can read the actual entry (same information you normally see on the birth certificate) along with other entries. As you read it, you found it is a right Robert Gunderson. They do allow you to copy the details off the entry into your notebook.

After you use up 4 free verifications, you have to pay 2.50 pounds per verification after that.

I hope I give you a clear idea of what the verification is all about.

In my opinion, I like Belfast GRO better because of the computerised indexes which make it much easier for you to concentrate on your research. Dublin "GRO" is not that bad but a bit confusing because like Ronnie said you have to wait your "turn" for the volume to look up in.

Kind regards,

Tees

[HistoryTeam]

Thanks to all for your valuable help and insight. We now know what to expect.

K & J