CIVIL REGISTRATION & PROBATE RECORDS
General Register Office (Birth & Death) Indexes
The covering dates for the General Register Office Indexes for ordering pdf copies have been extended.
Births 1837-1934 and 1984-2019 These are particularly useful as they include mother's maiden name.
Deaths: 1837-1957 and 1984-2019. These contain age at death.
There is no facility for ordering pdf marriage certificates.
To search the indexes you will need to set up an account. General Register Office
pdf Birth and Death certificates currently cost £7 as opposed to £11 for a full certificate.
Wills 1858+
Including Soldiers Wills. These can be ordered direct and cost £1.50 each
A bargain!
Find a Will (Probate Search) www.gov.uk
There are three sections:
- 1858-1996
- 1996-to present
- Soldier's Wills
Hint 1 - it is not worth ordering an Administration where there is no Will as there will not be any further information included in the Will than that given in the probate summary.
Hint 2 - Searching is easier if you find out the date of death especially if you have a common surname. Probate usually, but not always, takes place within a year or so of the death.
Hint 3 - Soldiers Wills - a soldier may have two Wills - check both the Soldier's Wills database and the other database.
Wills are great for identifying siblings and married names especially where you are researching a common surname. The disappointing ones are those that say - I leave everything to my wife............. It is not only the rich that left wills - some are for very small amounts.
Have fun!
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