UK Official Records


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Last updated: 6/2/2025


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Apostille Legalisation


Legalisation (Apostille) is the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp on a UK public document is genuine.

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Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates are full length copies and can be used for official purposes.

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Birth Certificates UK

Good Morning, Welcome to UK Official Records !

This site exists to help you obtain a Birth, Death or Marriage certificate as quickly and as easily as possible.


Birth Certificates UK


In most countries, a birth certificate is a vital record usually containing most of the following information:

  • Name at birth
  • Date and time of birth
  • Sex
  • Birth registration number (NHS number in UK)
  • Legal parent(s) (in some countries including parents' occupations, places of birth, and maiden name of the mother)

Click here to order a certificate online

A UK Birth Certificate is usually issued at the time of registration. The birth must be registered with the Registrar of Birth and Deaths within 42 days (6 weeks) if born in England and Wales. If the birth was in Scotland, the registration must take place with 21 days.

For nationality purposes, the only acceptable certificate is a full British (UK) birth certificate. This certificate shows the father's profession along with the parents general details.

As documentary evidence, if the birth certificate was original, meaning issued within 12 months of the date of birth, it will usually be classed as Group 1. Other Group 1 documents are a valid passport and UK Driving License.

If the certificate is non original, meaning issued 12 months after the date of birth, it will usually be classified as Group 2. Other Group 2 documents are a marriage certificate and bank statement.

Most UK birth certificates do not have the time of birth recorded, and so are not suitable for solely astrological research. It is very important for anyone adopted who is wishing to trace their birth parents prior to their adoption, and UK law allows adopted people to obtain their certificate once they reach the age of 18.

All certificates should be issued with a stamp or seal, indicating their official nature. They will also be issued on high grade paper, which will contain a watermark which will be visible when the certificate is held up to light. In the case of English and Welsh certificates, this watermark will usually consists of a crown and the letters 'G.R.O.'.

The name of the issuing authority should be the Register Office that issued the certificate, so it may be a local Register Office such as Blackpool for example, or if it was centrally issued, then it will be the General Register Office.