Christmas closedown →
Any priority orders placed from 12pm on Monday 23rd December to 12pm on Tuesday 31st December will be for collection only at Wigan Life Centre.
Please note: Wigan Life Centre will be open from 10am to 4pm on Friday 27th December, Monday 30th December and Tuesday 31st December.
Normal delivery procedures will resume from Thursday 2nd January 2025.
We hold registers for Wigan and Leigh from 1837 to the present day. You can order a copy of the following:
- Birth certificate
- Death certificate
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate.
We can only supply certificates for the records we hold.
What information do I need to provide?
Before you apply for a copy certificate, you will need the following information:
- Your full name, address, daytime telephone number and email in case we need to contact you regarding the request
- The exact date of the registration or for family history purposes a minimum of the year and monthquarter are essential
- The full names of the people involved, where possible, otherwise we can not ensure the correct entry will be issued.
Family history
If you're tracing your family history you will be able to find reference on the Lancashire BMD website.
Further help researching your family history can be found at Wigan Archives and Local Studies.
Ordering marriage certificates
If the request is a marriage certificate, then you must provide the exact place or the name of the church. This is very important for the location of the entry. We are unable to process certificates that do not include this information.
If your marriage took place after 4th May 2021 in a religious building, we can only provide certificates once the marriage schedule or document has been returned to us to register the event. If we have not received the marriage schedule or document, we will let you know so you may follow this up with the clergy or authorised person.
Certificate fees and delivery
Please see below delivery fee options when requesting a copy certificate.
Certificate fees and delivery options
| Priority certificate |
£38.50 per certificate |
Your certificate will be ready for collection or will be posted out to you within 24 working hours of receiving your application. Applications received after 12 noon will not be processed until the next working day.
If postage is your preferred option, this will be sent by first class post.
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| Standard certificate |
£12.50 per certificate |
Standard delivery certificates will be issued within 15 working days (second class). Second class delivery is included in the fee. We do not accept any liability for items once they are in the hands of the postal service |
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Please note - Priority certificates are sent first class and are signed for. Signed for delivery has the same delivery timescale as standard first class post but has the added security of proof of delivery including a signature from the receiver. You can check online or on your mobile if your item has not been delivered or is delayed. Royal Mail provide compensation cover up to £50 for loss or damage - visit the Royal Mail website for further details (external link).
How to order
All fees are payable by debit or credit card when you make your order.