What we hold

We hold records of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships registered in the city of Manchester from July 1837 to the present (this does not include Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and other areas of Greater Manchester). For events registered elsewhere, contact the register office in that district to buy a copy certificate.

Where the record is held, depends on how old the record is.

Records held at the Manchester Register Office

Manchester Registration Service holds the records and produces copy certificates for:

• births registered from 1920 to the present date.

• deaths registered from 1945 to the present date
• marriages registered from 1945 to the present date
• civil partnerships

Records held at the Central Library

Central Library holds the records and produces copy certificates for:

• births registered from 1837 to 1919. 
• deaths registered from 1837 to 1944
• marriages registered from 1837 to 1944

How to apply for a copy certificate (from either Manchester Register Office or The Central Library)

Records of births, marriages and deaths before 1 July 1837

Civil registration of births, deaths and marriage started on 1 July 1837. Before this date, baptisms, burials and marriages were recorded by the churches where they took place. Central library hold church records for Manchester Diocese prior to 1837.

Tracing a long lost friend or relative

We do not keep updated records of a person's whereabouts. Try the electoral register for the district covering the person's last known address. Sometimes phone books can also be useful.