Tracing your family history | OpenLearn - The Open University
The first thing is to write down everything you know about yourself and your immediate family, concentrating on names, dates of birth, marriage and death, and ...
the General Register Office
Of course, these days you can find any number of websites that offer advice, but try to stick to official sites such as <anchor>the General Register Office</anchor>, whilst Cyndi's List has an amazing collection of resources. Alternatively, you can buy one of the many periodicals devoted to the subject, or pick up PC software that has been designed to help you to organise your data. If you are really stuck, you can contact an independent researcher who can undertake work for you, for a fee.
Research your family history using the General Register Office - GOV.UK
Research your family history using the General Register Office - GOV.UK


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# Research your family history using the General Register Office

You can order birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership and death certificates from the General Register Office (GRO) to help you research your family history and family tree.

GRO has all the records registered in England and Wales from July 1837. You’ll need to look at parish records to trace back further.

It also has some other records, starting at a later date, for example for civil partnerships and adopted children. You can [check which records are held by the GRO](/government/publications/events-recorded-in-england-wales-and-overseas/events-recorded-in-england-and-wales).

There’s a different process for getting certificates in [Scotland](http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/how-to-order-an-official-extract-from-the-registers) and [Northern Ireland](http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/do-it-online/government-citizens-and-rights-online/order-a-birth-adoption-death-marriage-or-civil-partnership-certificate.htm).

## How to order a certificate

You can order a copy of a [birth, adoption, marriage, civil partnership and death certificate](/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate) from GRO.

All births, adoptions, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths registered in England or Wales have a GRO index reference number.

### Find index reference numbers online

You can:

- search the [GRO online Index of historic births (1837 to 1916) and deaths (1837 to 1957)](https://www.gro.gov.uk)
- view index reference numbers for free on the [FreeBMD website](http://www.freebmd.org.uk)

Commercial companies also have the index reference numbers online, but you’ll have to pay to search them and prices will vary.

### Find index reference numbers in person

You can also search for free at:

- the [Library of Birmingham](http://libraryofbirmingham.com/)
- [Bridgend Local and Family History Centre](https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/births-deaths-and-marriages/birth-death-and-marriage-records/)
- the [City of Westminster Archives Centre](http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/libraries/archives/)
- [Manchester Central Library](http://www.manchester.gov.uk/centrallibrary)
- [Newcastle City Library](http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/leisure-libraries-and-tourism/libraries)
- [Plymouth Central Library](http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/leisureandtourism/libraries/findyourlibrary/centrallibrary.htm)
- [The British Library](http://www.bl.uk/) (you’ll need to [register first](http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/inrrooms/stp/register/howreg/howtoregister.html))

These are the only complete copies of the full sets of index reference numbers. They’re on microfiche.

Some of the index reference numbers are available at [local libraries, archives and other locations](/government/publications/public-holders-of-the-general-register-office-indexes).

## Overseas records

GRO has [records of births, marriages and deaths](/government/publications/events-recorded-in-england-wales-and-overseas/events-recorded-in-england-and-wales#events-recorded-abroad) of some British citizens that have taken place abroad since the late 18th century.

These include births, marriages or deaths:

- registered by the armed forces
- recorded by British consulates or high commissions
- at sea, or on British oil or gas rigs or aircraft

## Divorce or civil partnership dissolution records

For copies of a decree absolute or final order of the dissolution of a civil partnership, you’ll need to contact either:

- the court where the divorce or dissolution was granted
- the Principal Registry of the Family Division

**Principal Registry of the Family Division**

020 7421 8594

[Find out about call charges](/call-charges)

Principal Registry of the Family Division

First Avenue House

42-49 High Holborn

London

WC1V 6NP

## Further information

You can also search [local archives](/search-local-archives) and the [National Archives](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) to help research your family history.

The GRO’s guides to [researching your family tree](/government/collections/general-register-office-guides-to-researching-your-family-tree) include details of the information you’ll find on certificates, and what to do if you cannot find a certificate.

## Related content

- [General Register Office](/general-register-office)
- [General Register Office for Northern Ireland](/general-register-office-for-northern-ireland)
- [Get a copy of a decree absolute or final order](/copy-decree-absolute-final-order)
- [Order a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate](/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate)
- [Applying for probate](/applying-for-probate)

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- [Certificates, register offices, changes of name or gender](/browse/births-deaths-marriages/register-offices)

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