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The National Archives does not have the following popular records:

• Birth, marriage and death certificates are kept by the General Register Office

• All military service records after 1923 are kept by the Ministry of Defence

• Wills after 1858 are kept by the Probate Service

• Certificates of naturalisation from 1 October 1986 are kept by the UK Border Agency

• Adoption records are kept by the General Register Office

• Legal proof of divorces since 1858 is available through the Principal Registry of the Family Division

• Parish records are kept in local archives and you can find many online

The National Archives is not the best place to look for certain kinds of records. Start your search in other archives for records relating to:

• Electoral registration
• Local businesses and employers
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Houses

You can find huge numbers of records in other archives. There are over 2,400 archives in the UK which offer access to records. Search the:

• ARCHON Directory for contact details of UK, and some overseas, archives
• National Register of Archives to find which archives hold particular records
• Access to Archives for records held in selected local archives

Bear in mind that there are other national archives which might help your research:

• National Records of Scotland
• Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
• The National Library of Wales
• The National Archives of Ireland

Ready to start?

• Search our records using Discovery, our catalogue
• Use our person, place, or subject research guides

Want to ask us a question?

• You can contact us, via our online forms, by email, phone or live chat

The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8876 3444. Contact us