Certificates issued by the GRO clearly state that they are certified copies of the register entries, that they are not evidence of a person's identity, and that there are criminal offences relating the unlawful amendment or falsification of a certificate, or using or possessing a false certificate. Certificates contain the seal of the General Register Office and show an abridged version of the Royal Coat of Arms. These are the only complete copies of the full sets of index reference numbers. They’re on microfiche. Any personal data you provide to GRO will be handled in compliance with current UK data protection legislation.

Overseas – Applications for deaths registered overseas – please state the country and last occupation. If the occupation was with HM Forces, state branch, regiment and service number. Section 3 – GRO index reference A project, called DoVE (Digitisation of Vital Events), to digitise the GRO's records of birth, marriage and death was initiated in 2005. Implementation of the project was outsourced to Siemens IT Solutions and Services in a three-year contract which expired at the end of July 2008. The process of scanning, digitising and indexing suffered severe delays, with only (roughly) half the records delivered by the end of the contract period. By mutual agreement between the IPS and Siemens, the contract was not extended. Digitisation of birth records up to 1934 and death records up to 1957 had been completed when the contract ended. a b c Higgs, E. The early development of the General Register Office at http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/View?path=Browse/Essays%20%28by%20kind%29&active=yes&mno=2002 Retrieved 18 August 2013This form provides guidance on how to complete a birth, marriage or death certificate application form. Guidance notes for adoption certificate applications can be found on the adoption certificate application form. Birth certificates All births, adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths registered in England or Wales have a GRO index reference number. Find index reference numbers online Birth certificates issued by the GRO are printed on a red form and contain the following information: Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information

a b c d e f g "The Registrars General 1836–1945" (PDF). Census history. Newport: Office for National Statistics. 5 June 2001 . Retrieved 20 May 2011.

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Overseas – Applications for births registered overseas – please state the country of birth and the occupation of the father/parent. If the parent was serving in HM Forces, state branch, regiment and service number. Marriage certificates The GRO supplies copies of birth, marriage, civil partnership certificates and death certificates, either online or from one of the local register offices that act on behalf of the GRO.