Apply for a copy of a certificate

As long as the event took place in Scotland, you may apply to our registrations offices for a copy of a:

• birth, death, marriage (from 1855 until last year)
• civil partnership certificate (from December 2005 until last year)

Certificates for events in this year must be issued from the local authority where the event was registered.

Contact Bereavement Services for copies of lair certificates

• short (or abbreviated) certificate - shows minimal information
• long (or full) certificate - shows exactly what is recorded on the register page.

Birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificates are public documents. Anyone can apply for a copy without restriction.

Requests can be made:

• online
• over the phone
• in person

Requests will be processed within 5 working days. The copy certificate will be sent by 2nd class post.

Have the following information to hand:

• full name of the person(s) including surname at birth
• date of the event
• where the event took place

• extract requested where you have the abbreviated certificate: £10
• extract requested up to 1 month after event was registered: £10
• thereafter: £15

If postage is required, this will be calculated for you. The total cost will be given to you by a member of the Registration Team.

Only the adopted individual may request a copy of their adopted birth certificate from National Records of Scotland.

Apply to National Records of Scotland for a copy of a still birth certificate.

• certificates England and Wales
• General Register Office Northern Ireland
• certificates Ireland