The main records held are the statutory registers of births, deaths, marriages, still-births and adoptions.

For a full description of our records, please click on our historical records section.

For information on how to apply for certificates please go to the Birth, Death, Marriage and Adoption Certificate section.

No. All our records are held in secure storage and cannot be accessed over the Internet. However you can order Birth, Death, Marriage and Adoption certificates online.

Registration of all births, death and marriages began in 1864 and any events occurring before this (with the exception of Non-Roman Catholic marriages from 1845) would not have been registered.

The General Register Office only retains life events of birth, death, marriage and adoptions. No personal details except these are held.

GRO cannot undertake genealogical searches on your behalf. You may wish to contact a professional genealogist.

No. GRO does not have records of divorces. You may need to contact the Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 3JF, telephone number 02890 235111 (from outside UK +44 2890 235111).

No. The General Register Office does not have records of wills.
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland stores wills between the 1854 and 1993. They can be contacted on 02890 251318 (from outside UK +44 12890 251318) and at 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 6NY.

After this period they can be obtained from the Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 3JF, telephone number 02890 235111 (from outside UK +44 2890 251318).

Registration of all births, death and marriages began in 1864 and any events occurring before this (with the exception of Non-Roman Catholic marriages from 1845) would not have been registered.

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland holds records before 1864 such as tithe applotment records, valuation records and church records. They can be contacted on 02890 251318 (from outside UK +44 2890 251318) and at 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 6NY.

You should contact your Local District Registrar for advice.

For advice you should contact your local Social Services, the Court Service(Telephone 02890 235111) or a Solicitor.

Yes. If you are over 18 years of age and were adopted in Northern Ireland you can apply for access to your original birth entry by completing application form ACR 14 which can be obtained from this office.

If you were adopted in Northern Ireland you can apply for entry onto Part I of the Adoption Contact Register by completing application form ACR 7 which can be obtained from this office. Your details will be entered onto Part I of the Register and should your birth mother or any other member of your birth family apply for entry onto Part II of the Register you will be given their details. They will not be given your current name or address.

If you can prove that you are a member of the birth family, such as mother, grandmother, uncle, etc., of a person who was adopted in Northern Ireland, you can apply for entry onto Part II of the Adoption Contact Register.

Should the adopted person apply for entry onto Part I of the Register, your details will be given to them. You will not be given the adopted person’s current name or address. Further information can be obtained from this office.

You can register your childs name in any language you wish providing you use English characters.

No. The reference numbers used by the Church of the Latter Day Saints are not applicable to the General Register Office.

Since the introduction of civil registration of births and deaths in Northern Ireland in 1864, society has changed in many ways and the service has been adapted to reflect these changes.

The current framework for registration of births and deaths is set by The Births and Deaths Registration (Northern Ireland) Order 1976. The aim of this review and consultation will be to develop proposals for a service that can best meet the needs of all our citizens in the 21st century and can adopt and maximise modern methods and technology.

To view an electronic copy of the Consultation document please click here .

The consultation document will be circulated widely throughout the province to various organisations and interested parties including MPs, former MLAs, Local Authorities, relevant health, genealogical and professional organisations, religious and family support groups as well as being available to any member of the public from the General Register Office, the local District Registration Offices and via the Internet.

Delivering changes will be challenging as the process will involve legislative, organisational and IT development and the associated cost of implementing changes will be significant. Progress will be dependent on the success of future financial bids made by the General Register Office.

Once the results of the consultation exercise are known, officials will consider these and bring forward proposals. It will then be a matter for the legislature to consider any necessary changes to the law. It may thus take some time to fully implement any changes.

Care will be taken to ensure that any changes to the current system will not compromise the integrity of the service. Through innovation and effective application, standards will be maintained and systems will be responsive to future needs. All the appropriate procedures will be in place if electronic registration is introduced to ensure confidentiality is assured. There will still be a choice as to whether to opt for electronic registration or the personal face to face service.

Although self-completion of registrations may bring inherent risks, proper controls would be put in place to ensure the quality and integrity of information provided, including rigorous testing and monitoring.

Data security, confidentiality and privacy are key factors in any future system.

It is crucial that citizens maintain confidence in the registration service. The present system of registering and recording events will not change. Information would only be passed to the private sector at the specific request of the informant.

No, registration information will continue to be protected by law and there will be no exploitation of information for commercial purposes.

Under current legislation any person may search the indexes held in GRO but have no access to the records. They may for a fee obtain a certified copy of an entry in the register. Government departments are treated in the same way as the general public and have no greater privilege than any other body and must comply with the Data Protection Act.

Any changes implemented will be as a result of recommendations coming from the consultation exercise. The government is committed to providing an enhanced service to the public, using modern technology to maximum benefit.

All records will be protected according to the law and are also covered by the Data Protection Act. Regarding historic records, GRO will maintain the right balance between an individual’s and their family’s right to privacy and the society’s need for openness.

Appropriate safeguards and internal measures would be in place with stringent crosschecking procedures to prevent fraud and ensure that all births and deaths registered are factual and accurate.

The changes proposed in the consultation document do not involve a fundamental change to the registration service. Any new measures introduced will improve the level of service rather than decrease it.

Existing legislation makes provision for an individual to register names in any language of their choice. Future developments could mean that paper documents will be provided more for commemorative use rather than as prescribed statutory documents for official administrative purposes. As such their format, including the language used, could more readily accommodate personal preferences.

Any new services offered are not intended to replace religious ceremonies but will purely widen the choice available to the public. It will still be a matter of personal choice for individuals to select a religious or civil ceremony.

The statutory obligation on all citizens to register births and deaths will remain unchanged, regardless of any new services introduced.

Please refer to the Civil Partnership Section

Yes, all records will continue to be held in GRO but as is the case at present, the public will still be able to order certificates by telephone, post, in person or via the Internet.