Superintendent Registrars do not have the staff to undertake searches of an indefinite or extensive nature. Usually a search in the marriage index, covering a period of uo to 5 years will be made, but only where accurate details have been given of the marriage registration required. If a wider search is needed it is necessary for the applicant or someone on his/her behalf to make a general search in the indexes.
General Searches at a Superintendent Registrar's Office
A general search in the indexes may be conducted in person by the applicant or someone on his/her behalf for up to six consecutive hours. By arrangement with the Superintendent Registrar a person making a general search can have access to the indexes of births, marriages and deaths but not to the registers themselves. A certificate of any entry identified may be obtained on completion of an application form and on payment of the appropriate fee (see the link on the right for current fees)
If you cannot find an entry?
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.
Costs and how to pay
The cost of the General Search alone is £18.00 and payment is to be made to the Register Office immediately after the general search has been undertaken, regardless of the outcome. Payment can be cash, cheque (with a valid guarantee card) or debit/credit card. On top of the search fee each certificate issued will cost either £15.00 as a priority service (done straight away) or £9.00 each to be posted or collected from the office the next working day.