Other ways to find your family records

Explore other ways to find family records such as paying for a Registry search, hiring a transcription agent or looking into other archival resources.

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Request a Registry search

If you’re having trouble finding a record or do not have the time to do your own search, you can apply to the Registry to search for a record for an extra fee.

It costs $58 to have the Registry search records on your behalf. The fee includes the cost of one certificate.

It’s free to search the Registry index yourself. It is quicker to buy a certificate online from the index and costs $43.

How to apply for a Registry search

Download and complete the family history search application. The form can only be submitted in person or by post.

Include all the details of the person or life record you are wanting such as full name, date and place of birth, death or marriage. If exact dates aren't known include the years to be searched.

Submit the form using one of the following options:

By post:
Mail the completed form to:
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
GPO Box 30
Sydney NSW 2001
In person
Submit the completed form in person at the nearest Service NSW service centre.

If you have submitted your application by post, the Registry will review your application and send a secure payment link to the email address provided on your application.

Hire a transcription agent

You can pay a family history transcription agent to get a transcription of the official record. The agent provides:

either full or partial details of our records (transcriptions), or
checks and verifies details of the records we hold.

This option might be suitable if you only want the information contained in the record, but not an image or certified copy of the record. For information about agent services and how much it costs, contact a transcription agent.