ENGLAND/WALES
What information do I need to apply for a certificate?
We need the GRO reference number to apply for a certificate. This reference number includes the Name, Year, Quarter, District, Volume and Page number.
Where do I find the GRO index number?
The indexes can be accessed online at http://www.findmypast.com/ (paid site) or http://www.freebmd.org.uk/ (not an official site and not a complete compilation of indexes). They can also be viewed on microfilm or microfiche and are available at major libraries, LDS family history centres and family history societies.
Why can't I can't find the reference number on the index?
If you can't find the reference number on the index, you might like to consider the following: 1. Registering a Birth, Death or Marriage was not enforced prior to 1875. 2. Sometimes children were registered under the mother's maiden name if the child was born prior to the parent's marriage 3. Sometimes children were registered before their parent's had given them a name and therefore may be listed under 'male' or 'female' in the index. 4. Marriages sometimes took place after the birth of the first child. 5. As Divorce was expensive, often times men and women lived as a married couple without actuallly being married. 6. If a bride was married before, their Marriage registration may actually be in her married name rather than her maiden name.
When did registration begin?
Registration began in the 3rd quarter (July, August, September) of 1837.
What records are available prior to Registration?
If an event occurred before registration in 1837 you have to revert to Parish Records (Baptisms, Burials and Marriages that were recorded by the Church).
The records were kept on loose paper until 1597 when they were recorded in parchment books.
There are two periods when the Church placed a tax on baptisms, marriages and burials which resulted in fewer entries being recorded between 1694 to 1705 and 1783 to 1794. Failure to find an entry could be that the event, such as baptism, did not occur, was not recorded and the original parish registers were lost or destroyed.
If parish records are not available Bishops Transcripts may be an alternative. If you do not know the Parish then you need to establish a religion and town. From here you can search the Latter-day Saint Catalogue at www.familysearch.org
The names listed on Family Search are a result of patron submission and name extraction and only represents the tip of the iceberg to the collection. A search of the catalogue will determine if there are films available for the town and period you require that have not been extracted.
I have multiple possibilities from the index. What do I do?
We can ask the GRO to conduct a search for you, but we can't list the possible reference numbers in the application. The cost of a search is the same as the cost of a certificate application. The GRO will check a year either side of the date specified, however please be aware that the GRO will only look at the first 6 entries that correspond to your search, and will not continue searching beyond this.
Can I put a checking point on my application?
We can ask the GRO to conduct a search for us (without a reference number), however we CANNOT put a checking point on any application when a reference number is quoted.
What information is on a Birth, Death and Marriage?
What is the turnaround time for a certificate?
Please allow 3 - 4 weeks for your certificate.
Can I get a transcription of an English certificate?
No. We only provide the official certificates, however Joy is always available to help read the handwriting.
GENERAL
What are the account details to make a Direct Deposit into?
The details to make a direct deposit are BSB - 012-372 Account - 551563141 To identify your deposit we ask that you provide your CLIENT CODE in the reference details. If you are depositing at a bank branch however, please use your phone number as the reference as the bank is unable to enter the alpha code.
I wish to pay by cheque, can I order online?
If you are paying by cheque or money order, we prefer that you send your payment with your aplication form to us at PO Box 278 Oatley, NSW 2223. This ensures a quick and efficient turnaround of your request.
How can I place an order?
You can place an order online via our secure online ordering system, or you can mail your application to Joy Murrin at PO Box 278, Oatley NSW 2223.
Are there any other states that have a transcription agent?
No. NSW is the only state with a Transcription Agent.
I'm a new client. How do I get a Client Code?
We will assign you a Client Code when you make your first request application. It is helpful if you use this with orders and communications.
How do I obtain Records from Western Australia (WA)?
We do not have a Western Australian Certificate Service. For more information on searching the WA index, and ordering certificates, click here.
How do I obtain records from Queensland (QLD)?
We do not have a QLD certificate service, however you might find the information below useful: Civil Registration in Queensland commenced in 1856. Church records are available for Baptisms and Burials from 1829, and Marriages from 1839. For information on searching the QLD index, and order certificates, click here.
How do I obtain records from Tasmania?
We do not have a Tasmanian Record Services. Click on the link below for information on obtain records from Tasmania. Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Tasmania
NEW ZEALAND
Where can I find the index number?
An Index of New Zealand BDM’s has been produced on microfiche and may be available at major Libraries, Family History Centres and Societies. If you are unable to supply a reference number, providing an approximated year and place will assist us to find the entry. An additional charge may be applicable.
What is the cost?
What is the difference between a Printout and an Official Certificate?
There is no difference in the information provided. An Official Certified Certificate can be used for legal purposes, whereas an Printout cannot. Printouts are great for compiling your family history.
What is the turnaround time?
Please allow 2 weeks for Printouts from the Register, and 3 - 4 weeks for Official Certified Certificates.
Do I need a reference number?
No. Whilst a reference number is helpful to identify the correct entry, it is not mandatory. If you are unable to provide us with a referene number, we ask that you provide us with enough information to be able to identify them on the index. This includes such things as years, places, and paren'ts names. An additional search fee may be charged.
NSW
What do I need to order a transcription?
We need the Name, Year and Reference number found on the NSW index. The index numbers can be found here.
Where can I find the index number?
The index numbers can be found online at the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Click here to search the index. They can also be found at major Family History Centres and Societies.
When will new records become available?
On the 1st January each year we gain access to another year of Birth Death and Marriage records. We currently have access to Births up to 1911, Deaths up to 1981 and Marriages up to 1961.
Does a Transcription provide me with any additional information than what's on the Official Certificate?
In the case of an Illegitimate birth, a Certificate with the words “Illegitimate”, or “Spinster, will not be photocopied and issued, but the Registry will provide a typed copy only. When the Registration is typed, the Accoucheur, the Nurse and the Witness at the birth are omitted from the document. A Transcription Agent is not subject to the same regulations as the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages.
What is a Transcription?
Transcriptions are typed copies of registrations held at the Registry of BDM’s. They cannot be used for legal purposes but are a great resource for family history research. Transcriptions are an economical alternative to the official certificates and often contain information not recorded in the official certificates.
How were the registration numbers allocated?
A birth, death or marriage registration usually has two numbers listed on the entry. One number is recorded by the District at the time of registration. At the end of every quarter, the Districts forwarded a copy of their registrations to Sydney and they were bound in Registers with Sydney registrations first, followed by metropolitan districts, and then county districts in alphabetical order by the District name. Each registration was then given a new number by the Sydney Office. Many events were not registered in the quarter they occurred, and some were not registered until the following year. The numbers do not always give an indication as to the date of the event.
There is information missing on my Marriage Transcription. Is there any additional information available?
A minister performing a church marriage was required to record the details in the Church Marriage Register. The detail was then transferred to a loose leaf form and forwarded to the Registry or District Office. On some occasions prior to 1898 details of age, place of birth of the bride and groom as well as parent's names was not recorded or else not forwarded to the Registry. Consider the following solutions: 1. Search the index and apply for a transcription for a birth of their child. The parent's were required to register the birth of children. The name, age, and birthplace of the parent's would be recorded on the birth transcription. 2. Check the witnesses who may have been family. 3. Check to see if there a registration for a sibling that may provide more detail. 4. Check if the Church has a complete record in the Church Register: Presbyterian Parish Records: Ferguson Memorial Library PO BOX 2196 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Uniting Church Records: C/- Centre for Ministry 16 Masons Drive North Parramatta archives@nsw.uca.org.au
How can I trace my Aboriginal ancestry?
Many times on the Birth, Death and Marriage registrations the words “Aboriginal”, “half caste” or “quarter caste” are recorded. Also places of marriage, burial and births will list the Aboriginal Reservation. This allows researchers to know of their Aboriginal Ancestry.
Why can't I find it on the index?
There are many different reasons why you may not be able to find the event on the index. 1. It may not have been recorded. (this is not common with Births, Deaths and Marriages after official registration in 1856, but it did happen) 2. It may be registered under a different spelling. 3. Up until the end of the war, all registrations were done verbally. Thus the Clerk was responsible for how the name was recorded.
What is a Check and Verify? How does it work?
A check and verify allows you to make sure that you have the correct record, before purchasing a Full Transcription. For example: You may be looking for the Death Transcription of a John SMITH. When ordering a Check and Verify, you can state that you ONLY want the transcription IF he was married to an Eliza JONES. Joy will check the record, and if the spouse is listed as Eliza JONES she will transcribe a Full Transcription. If however Joy checks the record, and the spouse is not listed as Eliza JONES, she will only charge you the checking fee.
SCOTLAND
Can you obtain Census Records for me?
Yes. We can obtain a copy of the census for you. See here for pricing details.
What information is contained on an OPR?
Information recorded on Old Parish Registers vary and are not as detailed as Civil registrations from 1855 onwards. You may find that there is little or no additional information contained in the register over and above what you have seen in the index entry.
What information is contained on a Birth, Death and Marriage?
Information recorded on church records (1554-1854) vary, and are not as detailed as Civil registrations.
What is the difference between an Uncertified Copy (UC) and an Official Certified Certificate (OCC)?
There is no difference in the information provided. An Official Certified Certificate can be used for legal purposes, whereas an Uncertified Copy cannot. Uncertified Copies are great for compiling your family history.
What is the turnaround time?
For uncertified copies of the index, please allow 1-2 weeks. For official certified certificates, please allow 3-4 weeks.
Are all events recorded in the OPR's?
No. Some records were lost or destroyed, and some records were not kept at all. Note: Deaths/burials were recorded sparsely and sporadically in the OPRs, if at all.
What records are available prior to official registration in 1855?
The Old Parish Registers (OPRs) are recordsof births/baptisms, Marriages and deaths/burials kept by the Parishes before civil registration in 1855. They do not contain a lot of information, and are not a complete index for all the events that took place during this time
When did registration begin?
Official Registration began in 1855.
Do I need a reference number?
No. Whilst a reference number is helpful to identify the correct entry, it is not mandatory. If you are unable to provide us with a referene number, we ask that you provide us with enough information to be able to identify them on the index. This includes such things as years, places, and paren'ts names. An additional search fee may be charged.
VICTORIA
What is the cost?
What is the turnaround time?
For Digital images, the turnaround is 1-2 weeks. For Official Certificates, please allow 3-4 weeks.
What information is provided on Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages?
What is the difference between a Printout and an Official Certificate?
There is no difference in the information provided. An Official Certified Certificate can be used for legal purposes, whereas an Printout cannot. Printouts are great for compiling your family history.
Do I need a reference number?
No. Whilst a reference number is helpful to identify the correct entry, it is not mandatory. If you are unable to provide us with a referene number, we ask that you provide us with enough information to be able to identify them on the index. This includes such things as years, places, and paren'ts names. An additional search fee may be charged.
