There are a number of ways by which you can apply for certificates: -

• Telephone 08458 247 400 between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday

• Post to The Certificate Office, Kent County Council, Births, Deaths, Marriages and Partnerships, 39 Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1EP.

Whichever way you choose you will have to pay for the certificate before we process your application. Payment can be by cheque, postal order or credit or debit card. Application forms are available on this site for Births, Marriages & Deaths certificates. Your certificate/s will usually be sent to you within 10 working days. However if you require the certificate/s to be issued within 24 hours of receipt of your application there will be an additional fee of £20.00 for each certificate.

What if I do not have all the correct information?

You can visit our offices where the manual birth, death and marriage indexes are held and for a fee search the indexes held there. This service is restricted and you must make an appointment. Our staff will of course be happy to provide you with certificates for any entries that you find.
If you are not sure where the event occurred, you can visit the Family Records Centre at the General Register Office at 1 Myddelton Street, London, EC1 where indexes are kept covering all registration districts in England and Wales. Telephone 0208 392 5300 or visit their website at www.statistics.gov.uk

What about births, deaths and marriages before 1837?

Events that happened before 1 July 1837 may have been recorded in church baptismal, marriage and burial registers, which are kept by the local county Archivist. Early census returns can sometimes prove useful sources of information. The Office for Kentish Studies at County Hall, Maidstone (01622 694363) will be able to advise you on this.