What's on a birth certificate?
England and Wales
Well this depends when the person was born. Civil registration for births in England and Wales began in 1837 from that time up until 1969 The information recorded was Name, Date and Place of Birth, Gender, Fathers full name (if it was given at the time of registration) Fathers Occupation, Mothers name at time of registration and her maiden name.
For births occuring after 1969 parents places of birth are also recorded and for births occuring after 1984 Mothers Occupation is also listed.
Scotland
Civil registration for births inScotland began on 1st January 1855. The only way to search scotlands records on-line is through the scotlandspeople website www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. It works on a pay as you go credit system but is worth the money as scottish birth entries are alot more fully detailed than those from England and Wales.
Typically a scottish birth entry will include it conatains the childs name, date, time and place of birth, Gender, Fathers full name, and rank or profession. Name of mother at time of birth and her maiden name. Some of the earlier entries also include details of siblings and places of birth for parents.
How much should a certificate cost?
A birth certificate issued from the General Register Office for England and Wales on a standard service will cost you about £7.00 if you supply the GRO Index and about £10.00 if you don't. If you ask for the 24 hr priority service it will cost you around £23.00 - £26.00 depending on wether or not you supply the GRO index reference not.
If it is a Scottish Birth Entry between 1855 and 1908 you can view the original image on-line at the scotlands people website for about 5 credits. (Minimum credit purchase is 30 credits for £6.00) If it is after 1908 you will not be able to view it online but can order a copy of the extract directly from the General Register Office for Scotland.
