Registrar of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Registrars collect and record details of all births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you may:

  • interview parents and relatives after a birth or death
  • complete computerised and paper records
  • issue birth or death certificates
  • inform the coroner if there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding a death
  • collect statistics to send to the General Register Office
  • produce and take payment for copies of certificates
  • keep accurate records
  • perform civil ceremonies for events like marriages, civil partnerships, naming and citizenship

Working environment

You could work in the community or in an office.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could be promoted from assistant registrar to deputy registrar, then to registrar and superintendent.

Each district has at least one superintendent registrar and deputy, and each sub-district has a registrar and deputy.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • administration skills
  • customer service skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • knowledge of English language
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • active listening skills
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • be over 21 years of age

Doctors, midwives, ministers of religion, funeral directors and anyone working in the life assurance industry are not allowed to become registrars.

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

Most relevant

  • English Language - Registrars need excellent command of English to accurately record details of births, deaths, marriages, and civil partnerships. They conduct sensitive interviews with parents and relatives, and must ensure all official documents and certificates are precisely worded and free from errors.
  • Law - Registrars work within a strict legal framework, following government regulations and court procedures to ensure all records are legally valid. They must understand the legal requirements for marriages and civil partnerships, and know when to refer suspicious deaths to the coroner.

Also relevant

  • Mathematics - Registrars handle payments for certificates, manage budgets, and collect statistics to send to the General Register Office. Basic numeracy is important for processing fees accurately and compiling the data that feeds into national records.
  • Sociology - Registrars interact with people from all backgrounds during some of the most significant moments of their lives – births, marriages, and deaths. Understanding how different communities, family structures, and social groups experience these events helps registrars provide a sensitive and inclusive service.
  • Psychology - Registrars often meet people who are grieving or emotionally overwhelmed, particularly when registering a death. Understanding how people process emotions and respond to difficult situations helps registrars handle these conversations with care and empathy.
  • Religious Studies - Registrars perform civil ceremonies and work with families from many different faiths and cultural traditions. Understanding various religious customs around birth, marriage, and death helps them be respectful and accommodating when conducting ceremonies or recording details.
  • Politics - Registrars work within local government and must understand how council structures and government regulations shape their role. Knowledge of how public services are organised and funded helps them navigate the administrative systems they work within every day.

How to become

You can usually get into this job through:

  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

You could start as an assistant or deputy registrar. With experience and on-the-job training, you could then apply for a registrar position.

To apply for an assistant or deputy role, you'll usually need:

  • to be at least 18 years of age
  • GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths, or equivalent

You could also work your way up from a managerial role at a local council or through getting relevant experience in a private sector company.

To apply directly for registrar jobs, you'll need experience in management and handling budgets. It's useful to have knowledge of relevant legislation and legal processes. You'll also need excellent customer service, public speaking and IT skills.

You might get this type of experience from working at managerial level in a registrar's department, local council or private sector company.

Career tips

Each local council sets its own entry requirements, so check with them for details of what you'll need.

Further information

You can find out more about training and working as a registrar from the Local Registration Services Association.

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