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I regret that I missed the recent exchanges of messages about post 1837 marriage registers because I failed to reignite my membership of the list after being on leave. I have this very morning been drafting a note for publication in ARC on this subject. This reads as follows, with some amendment to take account of the fact that the new guidance is not yet published: Archivists who work in record offices that are diocesan record offices for Church of England material will be aware that the records they hold include parochial registers of marriages since 1837. These are duplicates of the registers held by the local registrar. The Crown asserts its copyright in the design of these registers, and also exercises strict control over the issue and copying of certificates of marriage. As a result HMSO issued in 1999 its Guidance Note 7 on The copying of birth, death and marriage certificates. Unfortunately, that guidance was seriously flawed because it failed to take account of the fact that registers were held in diocesan record offices in England and Wales, and of the provisions covering those registers in the Marriage Act 1949 and the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978. After much debate with the Office for National Statistics and sister bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the guidance has now been revised and re-named The copying of birth, death and marriage certificates and registers, and will be available by the end of August from HMSO (St Clement's House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ) or on-line at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/copyright/guidance/guidance_notes.htm The guidance acknowledges that archivists of diocesan record offices in England and Wales may provide copies from these marriage registers. It also acknowledges that such archivists, together with Church of England parish clergy, clerks of Quaker meetings and secretaries of Jewish synagogues may supply official marriage certificates based on registers held by them. I hope that is clear, and takes account of comments that I have missed. Tim ---------------- Tim Padfield Copyright Officer Curator of Photographs Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council on National Records and Archives The National Archives Kew Richmond Surrey TW9 4DU Tel +44 (0)20 8392 5381 Fax +44 (0)20 8392 5286 E-mail [log in to unmask] Website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk This e-mail message (and attachments) may contain information that is confidential to The National Archives. If you are not the intended recipient you cannot use, distribute or copy the message or attachments. In such a case, please notify the sender by return e-mail immediately and erase all copies of the message and attachments. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message and attachments that do not relate to the official business of The National Archives are neither given nor endorsed by it.