Apply for certificates
If you know the
personal details for the certificate you require, please print and
complete the appropriate application form.
Please note: Kent does not include the Medway Towns (Chatham,
Gillingham, Rochester and Strood) or the London Boroughs of Bexley,
Bromley and Greenwich who hold their own records for births, deaths
and marriages going back to 1 July 1837, and Civil Partnerships
from 5 December 2005.
You can then apply in a number of ways:
- Telephone 08458 247 400 between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and ask to speak to a member of
staff in the certificate centre (the certificate centre is open
between 10am and 4.30pm on a Thursday).
- Post a completed application form to the The Certificate
Centre, Kent County Council, Births, Deaths, Marriages and
Partnerships, 39 Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1
1EP.
- Apply in person at the certificate centre. This is based at the
Mansion House in Tunbridge Wells.
Whichever way you choose, you will have to pay for the
certificate/s before we process your application. Payment can be by
cheque (payable to Kent County Council), credit or debit card. (If
you choose to pay by credit or debit card please apply by telephone
or in person).
Your certificate/s will usually be sent to you within 10 working
days. However, if you require the certificate/s to be issued the
next working day following receipt of your application, there will
be an additional fee of £27 for each certificate.
What if I do not have all the correct information?
If you do not know all the personal details:
- You can use our online search
facility. Not all indexes of registrations from 1 July 1837 are
currently available. New indexes are added annually. The online
search facility does not include civil partnerships - please see
below.
- You can visit the certificate centre and, for a fee, search the
birth, death and marriage indexes held there. This service is
restricted and you must make an appointment. You will be required
to pay for certificates for any entries that you find and wish to
view the information.
- If you are not sure where the birth, death, marriage or civil
partnership occurred,
The British Library now provides free public access to a
complete set of the General Register Office (GRO) indexes in
microfiche format. As well as the birth, marriage and death indexes
for the whole of England and Wales, indexes are available for
recent events, the Adopted Children Register, Civil Partnerships
and events which have been registered overseas. A full set of the
indexes can be found at Birmingham Central Library, Bridgend
Reference Library, The British Library, City of Westminster
Archives Centre, Manchester City Library, Newcastle City
Library (from November 14 2011) and Plymouth Central Library.
Please note that it is not possible to obtain a certificate at any
of the locations listed.
-
If you require a civil partnership certificate, telephone 08458
247 400 and ask to speak to a member of staff at the
certificate centre.
Fees from 1 April 2010
(Please note that a handling fee of £1 is added to your
order.)
Searches in indexes
General search - £18
Standard certificate for birth, death or marriage
Issued on the day of registration - £3.50
Issued after the day of registration from uncompleted registers
- £7
From completed registers - £9
Short birth certificates
(One short birth certificate is issued free at registration
of the birth)
Additional short birth certificate on the day of
registration - £3.50
From completed registers - £9
Civil Partnerships
Issued on the the day of registration - £3.50
After the day of registration - £9
Other fees
Express service for certificates issued the next working day
following receipt of an application - £27
Handling fee - £1 (as mentioned above)
Payment may be made by cash, cheque (made payable to Kent County
Council), credit or debit card. (If you choose to pay by credit or
debit card please apply by telephone or in person).