Genealogy Chat

I have mostly bought all my BMDs online from the 'official site'but I have heard that if one buys from the local office - where the event happened - the signatures and handwriting is original and not a transcription. Is this correct? It would make quite a difference.

Hi It depends on the local record office not all of them will supply scanned copies of the original certificate, some hand written/typed by the staff. You will need to ask the RO inquestion if they scan or handwrite their certificates.

Oh - so the GRO ones are original usually? That's OK then. I thought they were, but was told differently. The handwriting on some looks quite similar, but I suppose it is the style. I'll go through some more carefully and check them out.

It varies, most of mine are from GRO and photocopies of the originals - inc my parents and my birth certificates, my parents wedding certificate and many others. I've ordered some from the LRO (local records office) and had modern day handwritten copies. Can't remember off hand where that one was from. If you get the from the LRO, add a note that you would prefer to see the original handwritting - or ring before hand and ask if they can do it.

Thank you. I will do that - It would be worth the inconvenience of writing and using a cheque if I knew the information was going to be original.

No the ones from the GRO are handwritten copies, not the original parties handwritting. You can tell this because all the handwritting is the same.

no i meant the handwritting on the certificate is all the same, not that every certificate is written by the same person...my god that would be impossible !!

I agree that the GRO are handwritten copies... but the handwriting is definitely not all the same. Some of mine were written by students who got A* for handwriting, and some....! Linda