We can provide copies of birth certificates after the registration has taken place and copies of historical birth certificates for family history research. Requests are made to the registry office that issued the certificate or to our central repository at Harrogate, depending on where the records are kept at the time of the request.

When you register a birth, the event is recorded in a register. This is a large hard backed book which holds 300 records. The register will stay in the custody of the registrar until it is full, after which time it will be sent to our central repository at Harrogate.

Requesting a copy of a birth certificate

When you ask for a copy of a certificate, the registrar will issue this from the register in her custody. This means you can only obtain copies of certificates from the register office where the birth was registered. If the register has been moved to our central repository at Harrogate, you will need to apply there instead.

The contact details for the registry offices in North Yorkshire can be found below.

Unfortunately, we are unable to issue certificates from other offices, so you will need to contact the relevant office. Application forms may be used to obtain copies of certificates for births that have occurred in other areas and should be sent directly to the relevant register office. However, it is not necessary to use an application form, but we do need at least the following information:

• The full name and surname of the person and any other name they may have been using; and
• The place and date of the birth

The more information you can provide the better. Additional information could include:

• The names of the parents (i.e. mother's maiden name or husband as appropriate);
• The exact date of the birth;
• The exact location of the birth; or
• The general register office/St Catherine's index reference number. This indicates an entry in the register has been made. However, it is worth stressing that whilst this confirms the birth took place, the reference on the general register office index is relevant only to general register office searching and does not apply to the records we hold.

Paying for your certificate

There are various ways to pay for copies of certificates. These can be found on the registration service fees page.

Searches of indexes

We do not have the staff to undertake searches of an indefinite or protracted nature. Usually a search in the index, covering a period not exceeding five years, will be made but only where accurate details have been given of the particular registration. In some cases even this time period may be difficult. If a wider search is required it may be necessary to pay for a general search or you may commission one of our staff to do this for you.

General searches at the Superintendent Registrar's office

The indexes in the Superintendent Registrar's office relate only to births which occurred within North Yorkshire, that is excluding the city of York.

A general search is a search in the indexes conducted in person by the applicant or someone on his/her behalf for up to six hours. By arrangement, a person making a general search may have access to the indexes of births but not to the registers themselves. A separate fee is payable if any certificates are required.

Apply for a copy birth certificate Use our online form to request a copy birth certificate.