Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Do you buy your certificates locally from Liverpool RO or from the GRO? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

GRO
Cheaper £9.25 against £10 from Liverpool Register Office

Thanks Hilary, I haven't bought any for a number of years when I used to use an agent. You'd think Liverpool would see the advantage in being a bit cheaper and therefore raking in some funds, after all it's only a bit of paper.......but I suppose it's all government controlled anyway and no money would stay local.

Although there are those who would encourage ordering locally, I have found both Liverpool Register Office and also Southport GRO to be equally helpful when it comes to needing a criteria check on, say parents names for a birth or father's on a marriage certificate.

There is also no benefit in speed, both will take approximately 7-10 days to deliver, although longer obviously if you want reference checking as above.

I buy GRO certificates because they are A4 size so fit nicely into plastic folders in my files. The local certificates I have bought are larger than A4 size and are more awkward to file and display. I believe local certificates have original signatures on them whereas GRO certificates are copied from the local ones. This fact could sway a particular choice of purchase if signatures could prove or disprove a connection. There could also be a sentimental attachment to the writing of ancestors. Unfortunately further back we usually only get the mark rather than signature of ancestors.


Blue

The ones I have got from the local registrars have been handwritten by the registrar! Best bet for the signatures of ancestors are from the marriage entries at the church I find.