Registration Services - Certificates

On this page: How to obtain copy birth, marriage and death certificates - either for recent or historical events.

Registrations

The information below is about obtaining copy documents. For information about registration of the events themselves, please see Birth Registration, Marriages and Civil Partnership and Death - Registration.

Date Range

The Superintendent Registrar has custody of all the completed registers of births, marriages and deaths in the Swindon district since 1837, and has the responsibility for supplying applicants with certificates (i.e. certified copies of entries) on request - providing that enough information is given for the required entry to be identified.

How to Apply

Online Applications

You can order birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates online:

Births, Deaths and Marriages Online

Postal Applications

Please write to us with full details of the certificate you require, and enclose the correct fee.

• If you have given us enough information to trace the record, and it is held in Swindon, the certificate will normally be issued within 24 hours of the application being received.
• If the record is not held in Swindon, we will forward your application to the appropriate office if known; if not, we will write and tell you.
• Certificates can be posted to you by First Class Post.

Personal Applications

You need to complete an application form (a member of staff will assist you if necessary).

• Certificates are normally issued within 24 hours. 
• There is a Fast Track service for certificates which can be provided an hour after ordering. There is an additional £10 fee, which must be paid in advance.
• This service is available to personal callers only. 
• If the record you have applied for is not held in Swindon we will tell you which register office holds it.

Birth Certificates 

In order for us to identify the correct entry, please provide as much information as possible, but at least: 

• Full names (including surname)
• Date and place of birth
• Parents' names
• Mother's maiden name (if appropriate)

Marriage Certificates

In order for us to identify the correct entry, please provide as much information as possible, but at least:

• Full name(s) (including surnames) of parties to the marriage
• Date and place of marriage (eg: register office, name of church or other building)

Death Certificates

In order for us to identify the correct entry, please provide as much information as possible, but at least: 

• Full name(s) (including surname) of the deceased
• Date and place of death

Fees

Certain original documents are provided free of charge (for details please see Birth Registration, Marriages and Civil Partnershipships and Death - Registration), but there is a charge for further certified copies of certificates.

The fees are set by Parliament and change on 1 April each year, and they vary depending on when they are requested:

Certified Copies of Birth, Death, Marriage and Civil Partnership Certificates

*For recent events, please contact us to check whether your entry is in a current or closed register

Searching the Records

The public are not allowed access to the original records but can search the indexes of the records held at the Swindon Register Office for a period of six successive hours. If you wish to conduct a general search, please contact us to make an appointment.