Mike This is somewhat off-topic for the list, but I'll briefly summarize the position with respect to BMD certificates. First, by law, information from BMD registers can only be provided in the form of a certificate. Nobody is allowed to tell you anything from a register "over the counter" or by phone. Second, again, by law, anyone is entitled to obtain any BMD certificate no matter how recent. The only restrictions are in ordering certificates online from the GRO for events less than 50 years ago - where you need to supply a lot of details before the online application will be accepted. However you can almost always still obtain these recent certificates without knowing all the details if you apply to the GRO by phone, or if you apply to a local office in person. The only other restriction with respect to BMD certificates relates to indexes for very recent events. For events up to to 2005/2006 BMD indexes are available in numerous libraries and archives nationwide, indeed worldwide. They were also sold to commercial firms who have made these indexes available online. Since then the GRO has refused to sell the indexes to anyone. They have put these very recent indexes in a very limited number of venues - the nearest to here being Manchester. Clearly this isn't a very satisfactory situation, but it's all we've got. Maybe things will improve, maybe not, we'll just have to wait and see. You can still get certificates for these recent events by applying to the GRO or local offices, but you can only see indexes at the very limited number of venues. Other data - well as you know, census data is restricted for 100 years, but for everything else, contact the repository and ask. Some other types of record are generally restricted for 100 years, some for 30 years - but there are no laws and little consistency. Some archives are very restrictive, others less so - so ask. Now, as I said, this isn't a local topic so it isn't suitable for discussion on the list. So this thread is closed. Brian -- Brian Pears (Gateshead, UK) http://www.bpears.org.uk/ Joint List Admin NORTHUMBRIA Genealogy Mailing List GENUKI Northumberland Maintainer