National Records of Scotland
Responsible for Scotland's national archives. Also responsible for the registration of:
- births
- deaths
- marriage
- civil partnership
- adoptions
- the laws relating to the formalities of marriage.
Other responsibilities include:
- The census of Scotland's population every 10 years.
- Providing a family history service, drawn from their registration and census information, for genealogists across the world to trace their Scottish ancestry.
Services
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Apply for a Royal Anniversary Message
Get a special message from the King for a 60th, 65th or 70th or higher wedding anniversary. -
Change a name on the public register
Information on how to change your name or change your child's name on the public register. -
Changing a civil partnership to a marriage
Information on changing a civil partnership to a marriage. -
Civil partnership in Scotland
Information on civil partnership including how to register a civil partnership. -
Civil partnership outside of Scotland
Information on having a civil partnership outside of Scotland including in England and Wales and outside of England and Wales. -
Finding a will
How to find a will if someone dies. -
Get a missing person declared dead
Get a declaration of presumed death if a person has been missing for at least 7 years or you think they've died. -
Getting information about your adoption
How to get information about your adoption including tracing your birth relatives and the adoption contact register. -
Help after the death of a partner
What you need to do and what help you can get after the death of your husband, wife or partner. -
If someone dies outside Scotland
The steps you must take when someone dies outside Scotland or abroad – register a death, post-mortems, funerals and support. -
Marriage in Scotland
Getting married in Scotland including how to register a marriage and documents you need. -
Marriage outside of Scotland
Getting married outside of Scotland including within the UK and abroad. -
Order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate
Order an official birth, marriage or death certificate from National Records Scotland if you need a copy or want to research your family tree. -
Register a birth
Find out who needs to register a birth and how and where to do it. -
Register a death
Find out how to register a death in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK or abroad. -
Registering a stillbirth
Information on how to register a stillbirth and what support is available for you. -
What to do when someone dies
The steps you must take when someone dies – register a death, the procurator fiscal, funerals and bereavement support.
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