Searches of Marriage Indexes

Superintendent Registrars do not have the staff to undertake searches of an indefinite or protracted nature. Usually a search in the marriage index can be made covering a period of up to 5 years, but only where accurate details have been given of the marriage registration. If a wider search is required, it is necessary for the applicant or someone on his/her behalf to make a search in the indexes. For further information, ask the Superintendent Registrar at the Register Office.

General Searches at a Superintendent Registrar's Office

The fee for a General Search not exceeding six hours is £18.00.

The indexes in a Superintendent Registrar’s office relate only to births, marriages and deaths, which occurred within the Superintendent Registrar’s district.

A general search is a search in the indexes conducted in person by the applicant or someone on his/her behalf during any number of successive hours not exceeding six. By arrangement with the Superintendent Registrar, a person making a general search may have access to the indexes to the Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths, but not to the actual register. A certificate of any entry may be obtained from the local Register Office on completion of an application form and on payment of the appropriate fee.

If a person making a general search is uncertain whether a reference found in the indexes relates to the entry for which he/she is searching, the Superintendent Registrar, on being given definite details by which the entry may be identified, will verify those particulars by reference to the Register. Any additional information from the entry can only be made available in the form of a certificate.

Further information

Contact us

Please contact the Registry Office if you have any queries.

Other organisations

For further advice on family and local history research, you may wish to contact the following:

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