Chester Registry Office

Registry Services in Chester

Chester Registry Office, housed in the prestigious Merchants House on Crook Street, provides essential civil registration services for Chester and the Cheshire West and Chester area. Located in Britain’s most complete walled city with over 2,000 years of history, this registry office combines the ancient heritage of Roman Chester with modern professional registration services, serving residents and visitors to this remarkable historic city.

How to Apply for Certificates

Booking Your Appointment

Chester Registry Office operates exclusively on an appointment-only basis. You can book appointments by calling 0300 123 7037 (Monday-Friday 8:45am-4:40pm) or using their general enquiry form online. For urgent matters outside office hours, an emergency number 0300 123 8123 is available. Appointments are also available on Saturdays for marriages and civil partnerships upon request.

Required Documents for Births

When registering a birth in Chester, bring the following:

• Valid photo identification for all attending parties
• Baby’s red book if issued by the hospital
• Baby’s complete details (name, date of birth, place of birth, sex)
• Mother’s full information (name, maiden name, place of birth, address, occupation)
• Father’s details if being registered (name, place of birth, occupation)
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
• Any supporting documentation to ensure accurate registration

Certificate Costs and Processing

All standard certificates cost £12.50 each (including those purchased at registration). Priority certificates cost £38.50 for expedited processing. Standard certificates are posted by second class mail in the UK or International Standard abroad. Online ordering is available with priority given to recent births and deaths since February 2020.

Planning Your Visit

Location and Transport

Chester Registry Office is centrally located in Merchants House on Crook Street in Chester’s historic city centre. Chester railway station provides excellent connections to Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Cardiff. The city’s comprehensive bus network connects all areas of Chester and surrounding Cheshire villages to the centre, with stops near the Registry Office.

Historic Roman City Setting

Chester is Britain’s most complete walled city, boasting over 2,000 years of continuous history from Roman Deva to the present day. The Registry Office serves this unique heritage city with its famous Rows (covered galleries), Chester Cathedral, Roman amphitheatre, and medieval architecture, providing an extraordinary historic backdrop for life’s important ceremonies.

Parking and Accessibility

The venue does not have its own car park, but public parking is available within 200m at Dial House Parking on Hamilton Place. On-street Blue Badge parking is available on Hamilton Place. Disability access information is available on the AccessAble website. Please note there is not level access into the venue – contact the office for specific accessibility requirements.

Merchants House and Historic Chester

Chester Registry Office operates from the distinguished Merchants House featuring:

• Merchants Suite – Approved venue for civil marriages and civil partnerships in historic setting
• Historic City Centre – Located in Chester’s ancient walled city centre
• Roman Heritage – Over 2,000 years of continuous history since Roman Deva
• Medieval Architecture – Surrounded by Chester’s famous Rows and cathedral
• Complete Records – Cheshire West and Chester records from 1837 onwards
• Online Services – Modern certificate ordering and appointment booking systems