FFHS-NEWS Administration charge for certificates

[News from the Federation of Family History Societies]

Administration charge for certificates

We have recently been asked if it is in order for a local register office to
impose an administration charge in addition to the standard cost of £7 for a
birth, marriage or death certificate.  This is something which has been
asked previously but we have again put the question to the General Register
Office at Southport.

 

The answer received yesterday was “Our view remains as expressed in the
guidance – that the fees for certificates issued by superintendent
registrars are set by statute and a superintendent registrar has no power to
charge an additional fee, such as an administrative charge.  Only where the
local authority provides an additional, discretionary service, is it able to
charge a supplementary fee (to recover the cost) under the powers available
to it under the Local Government Act 2003.”

 

In view of this reply it may be pertinent to ask local register offices
which do levy such additional charges, under what authority they feel able
to do so.

 

Roger Lewry

FFHS Archives Liaison

exec.member.rl at ffhs.org.uk

6 January 2010

 

The Federation of Family History Societies is a Company Limited by Guarantee

Company Number 2930189 (England & Wales) - Registered Charity Number 1038721

Registered Office: Artillery House, 15 Byrom Street, Manchester, England M3
4PF

 

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