Corporate report

Events recorded in England and Wales and overseas

Updated 18 March 2016

Applies to England and Wales

1. Events recorded in England and Wales

Record held	Explanation	Dates
Birth and death records	A record of all births and deaths recorded	July 1837 to 6 months prior to the present date
Marriage records	A record of all marriages recorded	July 1837 to 18 months prior to the present date
Civil partnership records	A record of all civil partnerships recorded	2005 to present date
Thomas Coram register	A record of all children given into the care of the Foundling Hospital	1853 to 1948
Adopted children register	A record of all adoptions granted by courts	1927 to present date
Still birth register	A record of all still births recorded	1927 to present date
Parental order register	A record of all births that have been re-registered on production of a court order where a child has been born via a surrogacy agreement	1994 to present date
Abandoned children register	A record of all abandoned babies whose parentage is unknown	1977 to present date
Presumption of death register	A records of all events recorded in the presumption of death register where a declaration has been issued by a court in England and Wales	2015 to present date
Gender recognition birth	A record of all births re-registered following gender recognition where the original birth is held by GRO	2005 to present date
Gender recognition marriage/civil partnership	A record of marriages and civil partnerships re-registered following gender recognition of one or both parties where the original entry is held at GRO	2015 to present date

2. Events recorded abroad

Record held	Explanation	Dates
Regimental records	Records of births/baptisms, marriages and some deaths relating to British Army regiments	1761 to 1924
Chaplain returns	Army chaplains’ records of baptisms, marriages and deaths	1796 to 1880
Ionian Islands records	Births, marriages and deaths of the British Garrison on Corfu	1818 to 1864
Marine records	Births and deaths at sea	1837 to present date
Consular records	Births, marriages civil partnerships and deaths of British subjects registered at British Consulates	1849 to 12 months prior to the present date (birth, marriage and death) 2005 to present date (civil partnerships)
Army records	Births, marriages and deaths of members of the British Army or their families, which took place abroad	1881 to 1965
War deaths	Deaths of serving personnel during:
	The Boer War	1899 to 1902
	World War 1	1914 to 1921
	World War 2	1939 to 1948
Aircraft records	Births and deaths on board British registered aircraft	1947 to present date
Foreign marriage and civil partnership certificates	Certificates deposited with the GRO	1948 to 2013 (marriages) 2005 to 2013 (civil partnerships)
High Commission records	Births and deaths of British subjects registered at British High Commissions	1949 to present date
Armed forces records	Births, marriages, civil partnerships and deaths of members of the British armed forces or their families	1965 to present date (birth, marriage and death) 2005 to present date (civil partnerships)
Installation deaths	Deaths of workers on British oil and gas rigs	1971 to present date
Hovercraft records	Births and deaths on British registered hovercrafts	1972 to present date

3. How to order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate

For help with certificates and ordering contact certificate.services@gro.gov.uk or order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate online.