Copies of registration certificates - birth, marriage, civil partnership or death

How do I apply for a copy or replacement registration certificate?

We can provide you with copies of registration certificates for events that took place in the East Riding of Yorkshire from 1 July 1837, providing you can supply enough information for us to trace the register entry.

We cannot provide copies for events that took place outside of the East Riding of Yorkshire, instead, you must apply to the district in which the event took place.

Read about the information you will need to provide

Read about accessing certificates for entries, not in the East Riding

Read about accessing certificates for records prior to 1837

Or, apply now below:

Once we can confirm we hold a record of the certificate we’ll email you to ask for an online payment.  See cost of certificate copies. 

Birth certificates for people who were adopted 

We do not hold any adoption birth entries. If you would like to buy a copy certificate of an adopted person please apply to the General Register Office (external website).

Certificates from outside the East Riding

The General Register Office website (government website) allows you to purchase certificates from areas all over the county: 

General Register Office (external website)

You may also want to apply to our neighbouring registration districts: 

• Hull City Council (external website)
• York City Council (external website)
• North Yorkshire County Council (external website)
• Leeds City Council (external website)
• North Lincolnshire Council (external website)

Please note: some non-registration websites offer to provide copy certificates. They will make the application on your behalf and may charge very high handling fees. 

If you have a more complex query call us on (01482) 393600.

What information will I have to provide?

For us to locate the certificate you must provide:

•  the first and last name on the certificate
• your contact details
• the date, exact or approximate, of the birth, death, marriage or civil partnership
• the place, exact or approximate, where the event took place.

The following information may also help us to locate the correct certificate:

• parents' details if it is for a birth certificate
  
• occupation
• name of spouse or civil partner if it is for a marriage or civil partnership certificate.
  
  

Please note: your request is more likely to be successful with as much specific information as possible.

How long will it take to get a copy certificate and how much does it cost?

Priority service 

• The £35 fee includes one certificate and additional certificates cost £11 each
• We’ll let you know if we hold a record of the certificate within one working day
• Once we confirm we hold a record of the certificate we’ll ask you to make payment online. 

Receiving your certificate(s)

• We post certificate(s) to a UK address at no extra charge
• If international postage is required, we’ll calculate the postage charge and add this to the total amount
• We will not take any responsibility for certificates once they’ve been posted
• If you need to collect your certificate(s) in person we’ll call you after we receive payment to arrange an appointment. This is to comply with government social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19. 

Standard service 

• The £11 fee includes one certificate and additional certificates cost £11 each
• We’ll let you know if we hold a record of the certificate within five working days
• Once we confirm we hold a record of the certificate we’ll ask you to make payment online. 

Receiving the certificate

• We post certificate(s) to a UK address at no extra charge
• If international postage is required, we will calculate the postage charge and add this to the total amount
• We will not take any responsibility for certificates once they’ve been posted
• Please note: the option to collect certificates in person has been suspended due to COVID-19 for the standard service.  

Can I apply for someone else’s certificate?

You can apply for someone else’s certificate if it is for a birth, marriage or death. You must provide full information such as names, places and dates and say why you are applying for the certificate.

Please note: you cannot apply for someone else’s civil partnership certificate.

How do I apply for a historical copy certificate?

We only hold registers containing entries for births, deaths and marriages in the East Riding dating back to 1 July 1837.

For information on records before this date visit the East Riding Archives (external council website).

East Riding of Yorkshire  family history archive service  at the Treasure House has a number of records from:

• parish and church records
• census information
• cemetery records
• information on wills
• some general register office (GRO) indexes
• archive and local studies information.

How do I start to trace my family tree?

Firstly, try to find out all the information you can from relatives, such as names, dates, address, occupations and religions. 

Try to find any relevant documentation such as wills, birth, marriage and death certificates. Obtain further information from various sources. There are many publications and websites to help.

Take notes, try to draw up a rough family tree, confirm the earliest event that you are certain of and apply for a birth certificate. This will give you further family information and dates.

There are also many local family history societies who will be willing to help (see guide below for more information). 

Read our useful guide:

Family History leaflet (pdf 67kb)

Or, visit our  family history page.  

What is the GRO Index?

The General Register Office Index (sometimes called the St Catherine's Index) is an index since 1837 of all births, deaths and marriages listed alphabetically in date order. This index is available at most major libraries (but none in the East Riding).

Read more about the GRO Index and family history at the General Register Office website:

General Register Office (GRO) - Family History (external website)