Applying for certificates

Waltham Forest Register Office holds certified copies of most births, deaths and marriages/Civil Partnerships that have occurred in the borough since 1837.  Certified Copy certificates can only be provided for those births, deaths and marriages/Civil Partnerships that took place in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

Please note Waltham Forest holds records of civil marriages from 1935 although, we have church records that go back to 1837.

Certificate fees

Issuing a standard certificate of birth, death or marriage/civil partnership at the time of registration will be £3.50 but will be £7 after the time of registration issued by a Registrar.

A 24 hour service is provided at £20 each certificate. All other certificates will cost the statutory fee of £9

Search fee if undertaken by the applicant (strictly by appointment only) £18

If place or year of birth/death/marriage/civil partnership not known and requires search or needs cross referencing by RO staff, there will be an additional search fee of £10  

Certificates can be ordered in person from the Register Office and paid for in cash, cheque credit card or postal order. Please do not send cash through the normal post.

If you email the Register Office, please make sure you quote all the information below, and include a telephone number so that we can call you in the event of a problem.

If you telephone the Register Office to apply for a certified copy of a certificate, please make sure you have all the information ready before you call, along with your credit/debit card details. Please be patient as this is a very busy line or try at a later time

The information you need to supply

For birth certificates

  • The full name at birth of the person for whom you are applying for a certified copy certificate
  • Surname
  • Date of birth
  • Father’s forenames
  • Father’s surname
  • Mother’s forename
  • Mother’s surname
  • Mother’s maiden name
  • Place of birth

For death certificates

  • Surname of the deceased
  • Forenames
  • Occupation
  • Address
  • Postcode
  • Date of birth
  • Date of death
  • Place of death

For marriage / civil partnership certificates

  • Full name of both parties (bride and groom) at the time of the marriage
  • Date of marriage
  • Place of marriage

Occasionally, where a church still holds the relevant register, they will have to issue the certified copy certificate. Please contact us in the first instance for all requests, and we will tell you if you need to contact them.