The original registration records are not open to the public but you can get copies of the entries in the form of birth, marriage and death certificates. These register entries have been indexed, and the indexes are organized alphabetically for each year into quarterly volumes to 1983, and annually thereafter. There are also central indexes of all legal adoptions (since 1927) and some events which have been registered overseas. These indexes may be examined at the Family Records Centre without charge.
 

How to Search the Indexes in Person

The indexes at the Family Records Centre (FRC) are arranged by color: births are in red books, marriages are in green books, deaths are in black books, and adoptions are in yellow books. The years and quarters to which each index refers are clearly marked on the spines of the books. You will need to know the year in which the event took place to find it easily in the indexes.

The entries in each index are arranged alphabetically by surname. Marriages can be searched for under either the groom's surname or the bride's maiden name. There is also additional information included next to each name to help you narrow down which entry may be your ancestor:

• Births: mother's maiden name, district where registered and index reference
• Marriages: district where registered and index reference
• Deaths: district where registered and index reference

You will need the index reference when ordering a copy of a certificate

Important: The indexes do not record the actual date that an event occurred, they record the actual date that the event was registered. Therefore the quarter of the year in which the event was registered (and indexed) is not necessarily the same quarter that the actual event took place.
 

How to Search the Indexes Through a Family History Center

The Civil Registration Indexes for England and Wales are available through the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City on both microfilm and microfiche. The microfiche costs significantly less to order than the microfilm (about $0.15 each) and can remain at your local Family History Center on indefinite loan.

You can use the online Family History Catalog to locate the microfilm or microfiche indexes you will need to order from your Family History Center:

Civil Registration Indexes on Microfiche and Microfilm - Births

Civil Registration Indexes on Microfiche and Microfilm - Marriages

Civil Registration Indexes on Microfiche and Microfilm - Deaths

The registrations are listed in order from the oldest (1837) to the most recent that have been filmed (1983). Copy down the Fiche Number and other descriptive information. This is what your local Family History Center will need to order the appropriate indexes for you. Keep in mind that each quarter will have its own individual catalog number for the microfiche. The index for a single quarter may contain anywhere from 2 to more than 35 fiche!

Once the indexes you have ordered arrive, search for the section which corresponds to the month and year of the event and surname of the ancestor for which you are searching. The index should give you their name, the district where the event was registered, a volume number, and a page number. If there is more than one person with the same name, try to use the registration district to determine which one could be your ancestor. Copy down all of this information, including the name and date of the index that you are using.

Other Sources for Searching the Indexes

• For an online, searchable database of the index to births, marriages and deaths, try the volunteer-run Free BMD site. While not complete, this freely searchable index already includes over 28 million entries (includes some duplication of entries) from over 3500 contributors.
   
• The National Library of Wales has copies of the Office of National Statistics indexes for Wales and England.

What information do these records contain?

How do I locate a birth/marriage/death certificate?

How do I order a copy of a birth/marriage/death certificate?

My ancestor was born/married/died after 1837. Why can't I find his/her record?