The main records held are the statutory registers of births, deaths, marriages,
still-births and adoptions. The office does not engage in genealogical research although the records
can contain valuable information for anyone compiling a family tree.What Information is Available ?
Registers of births and deaths (from 1864) and registers of marriages (from 1845).
These civil registers make up the main series of records maintained by the General Register Office.
Where Are the Registers Held ?
In this Office :
Birth and death registers are available for the period on and after 1 January 1864.
Marriage registers are only available for marriages on and after 1 January 1922.
In the District Registrars' offices :
Marriage registers dating from 1 April 1845 for non Roman Catholic marriages and 1 January 1864 for all marriages are available.
Birth and death registrations are available for two years after the date of registration.
What Other Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages Are Held ?
Register of still births
Records of still births occurring in Northern Ireland on or after 1 January 1961 are also compiled by the General Register Office. These registers are not open for public search.
Adopted children register
Records of persons adopted under orders made by Courts in Northern Ireland on or after 1 January 1931.
Marine register of births
Records of births at sea of children, who were registered on or after 1 January 1922 and one of whose parents was born in Northern Ireland.
Marine register of deaths
Records of deaths at sea of persons born in Northern Ireland where death was registered on or after 1 January 1922.
Service Department registers
Records of births of children whose father was born in Northern Ireland, deaths and marriages registered on or after 1 January 1927 by way of "Army Act 1879".
Consular returns of births
Records of births of children of Northern Ireland parents born abroad and registered by British Consuls on or after 1 January 1922.
Consular returns of deaths
Records of deaths of Northern Ireland persons registered by British Consuls abroad on or after 1 January 1922.
Consular returns of marriages
Records of marriages of Northern Ireland persons registered by British Consuls on and after 1 January 1923.
High Commissioner's returns of births, deaths and marriages.
Records of births, deaths and marriages of Northern Ireland persons registered by the British High Commissioner in Commonwealth countries on or after 1 January 1950.
Foreign marriages (from 1947)
Certified copies of certificates (with translations) relating to marriages of persons from Northern Ireland in certain foreign countries according to the laws of these countries, without the presence of a British Consular Officer.
War Deaths
Records of deaths of persons born in Northern Ireland who died on War service between 1939 and 1948.
For information on Search facilities please click here
