Obtaining Certificates

How do I get a certificate?

• All certificates issued by the Register Office are certified copies of the register entry.
• Certificates can be issued by the Register Office in Pontypool for births, deaths and marriages occurring in the area from 1837 to date.
• These can be applied for by application form obtainable from any register office or by letter to the Torfaen Register Office at Pontypool giving information such as name, date and place of the event. Parents names will also need to be given when applying for a birth certificate.

How much do certificates cost?

• Current events are entered in the registers held by the Registrar, certificates cost £3.50 per copy. When the register is completed, it is transferred into the custody of the Superintendent Registrar and a charge is then made of £7.00 per copy.

How do I pay?

• Cash, cheque or postal orders should be made payable to Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC).

How long will it take to receive a certificate?

• It normally takes 20 minutes to deal with personal applications.
• Applications by post are usually dealt with by return of post.
• Family history certificates may take longer.

How can I get information on family history?

• If we cannot locate the register entry you require, then advice will be given on finding the records, which may not be held in this district.
• There have been many boundary changes since registration began in 1837 and Torfaen Register office does not hold all the Pontypool District records it once did. If a record cannot be found, then the County Records Office at County Hall Cwmbran (Tel: 01633 644886) and/or the Newport Reference Library (Tel: 01633 211376) may be able to help locally as they hold most of The National Index for Births Deaths and Marriages on microfische, appointments may be needed. The General Register Office web site www.1837online.com can be helpful.
• Applicants, living outside the district, should contact the local County Library or Records Office in their area to locate The National Index in their area.