Genealogy Chat

Helena are you Helena C. on SFT! Wondered if it was you! Erm - I'm a she but thanks for the endorsements! You're pretty good as well!!

I can recommend Woodys offer as he and his friends on scotfamtree are a great bunch of helpful people and who I was referring to when I said I knew some people who might help. Helena

Gros are excellent, Lyndsey. As Helena says, they will ask questions (and no reason why not) but once satisfied will supply you with the cert. I was charged £13 for the cert but that included a search fee - this I was able to do in Inverness although the particular birth took place in Edinburgh. Any Registrar's Office will do the same - and this can be done up to last week if necessary. If someone looks for it in Edinburgh for you they will not be able to copy the certificate but will be able to transcribe the details. If you wish this done let me know and we on scotfamtree will look for you - there is a small charge to cover costs but still cheaper than a trip to Edinburgh!

Thanks Helena I have a cousin who had a similar problem only with Ancestry UK for a birth less than 50 years ago. She was obviously able to find the registration details on Ancestry in order to apply for the certificate but they didn’t want to supply her with the certificate for that very reason. When they found out it was for family research they changed their minds and let her have it. LB

When you phone they ask loads of questions, with id theift they have to be careful but the certificate gives loads of info even addresses in some cases, I find scottish system easier than England but I suppose its what your used to. If you don't get anywhere with it send me a message as I know some people who maybe able to help Helena

Thanks Helena, for that excellent suggestion. I think I'll telephone first and check that that information is available first as it's a birth that's less than 50 years old. Actually all I want at the moment is the mother's maiden name. Are the Scottish registers in the same format as ours, that is, do they give the mother's maiden name? LB

Lyndsey the info on Scottish certificates is excellent, they even give mothers names on marriage certificates & death certificates. Georgina.

If you post in Record Office section -someone may be visiting Edinburgh and do the lookup for you, there are a few on the site who are regular visitors to Registrar House. Sorry I can't help on this occasion as don't know when I'll next get into Edinburgh. Helena

Hi Georgina Aha, now I know why I couldn't find it!! I suspected it must possibly be the case. It's a shame they don't operate the same as England and Wales. Thanks very much for putting me straight. I've learnt something new today Lyndsey

Lyndsey the Scottish GRO is different to the English one, you cant search for reference numbers. What you need to do is either write to them or telephone, if you dont know the exact year of birth they will do a 5 year search for a few pounds. I dont know what their policy is on birth certificates less than 50 years old but I am sure if you phone they will give you all the advice you need. Good luck with your search. Georgina.

Many thanks to you both for that lead and forgive me for being a bit thick. I’ve looked and found the part of the site where you order the certificates but can’t seem to find where you look up the reference codes in order to order a certificate. They obviously don’t work the same way that the Ancestry UK do? Many thanks in advance for a bit more guidence LB

For that date you need to contact the Scottish GRO Sorry can not remember the website addy Maureen

Hi Can someone please advise me where I need to look to find a Scottish birth in the early 1970's? Many thanks

Lyndsey you need to contact the GRO in Scotland... http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/ Georgina.