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Historical birth, marriage and death certificates

You can request a copy of a historical certificate. Alternatively, you can pay a fee to search the historical indexes yourself or have a registrar search for you.

On this page you can find online forms to request each type of certificate, as well as details of what information you need to require. In all cases, the place must include the sub-district or precise address where the event occurred.

Certificate costs and delivery

You can order a copy of a certificate online using our secure online payment service. You will pay £11 for each certificate. All certificates will be posted second class.

We accept all major debit and credit cards, and cheques (payable to London Borough of Southwark).

Allow five to 15 working days for your certificate to be produced and sent out.

Express certificate service

If you need copies of a certificate urgently, we offer an express certificate service. This service is only available between 9am and 2pm, Monday to Friday. This service costs £35 per application plus the normal certificate fee. The express service only applies to:

  • applications with full details
  • marriage and civil partnerships that took place after 1994
  • birth and death certificates after 1970

If we are unable to find a matching entry for the certificate you have applied for, we will refund the certificate fee. The £35 express service fee is non-refundable.

Birth certificates

For a copy of a historical birth certificate, you will need to provide the person’s:

  • full name
  • date of birth
  • address or hospital of birth
  • parents' full names, including mother's maiden name

You can order a birth certificate using the online form below.

Order a copy of a birth certificate

Marriage and civil partnership certificates

For a copy of a historical marriage or civil partnership certificate, you will need to provide the:

  • full names of both people (including the bride's maiden name if applicable)
  • date of marriage
  • address or church of marriage or civil partnership ceremony

You can order a marriage or civil partnership certificate using the online forms below.

Order a copy of a marriage certificate

Order a copy of a civil partnership certificate

Death certificates

For a copy of a historical death certificate, you will need to provide the deceased’s:

  • full name
  • date of death
  • place of death

You can order a death certificate using the online form below.

Order a copy of a marriage certificate

Search the indexes

If you are unsure of exactly where in Southwark an event took place or any of the details, you can search the indexes yourself for up to six hours.

Searching our indexes costs £18, giving you up to six hours. This does not cover the costs of producing a certificate.

Enlist a registrar

You can enlist the help of a trained registrar to search the indexes for you and produce your requested certificate(s).

You should provide as much information as possible to aid your request. If we can't find a record due to missing or wrong details, we will contact you.

Fees will be refunded if we cannot locate a certificate. We will also give you a log of searched districts for future reference.

CONTENT NEEDED: COST OF ENLISTING REGISTRAR

Searches are on Tuesdays by appointment. You can book a search or enlist a registrar via email to registrars@southwark.gov.uk or calling 020 7525 7669.

Southwark districts

Southwark’s current districts are:

  • Newington
  • Bermondsey
  • Rotherhithe
  • Peckham
  • Camberwell
  • Dulwich
  • Southwark
  • St Saviour
  • St Olave
  • St George Southwark

You can find full details of Southwark's historical districts and sub-districts from 1837 onwards by downloading the document below.

Southwark's historical districts and sub-districts
TURN PAGE INTO PDF DOCUMENT: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriage-civil-partnership-and-citizenship/certificates/historical-certificates?chapter=2