The Hampshire Registration Service Standard

Whenever you contact Hampshire Registration Service you will receive a high standard of customer care. Our staff will be polite and courteous and are entitled to expect the same from users of the service. Your views will be listened to and taken into account. Registration law which affects you will be explained in plain language.

We are contactable by telephone, fax, post and email. Your communication will be dealt with promptly, usually within two working days of receipt. Copy certificate applications, successfully traced, are issued within two working days. Historical searches may take longer. Please be aware that some Registration Offices are only open on a part time basis and your communications with these offices will be dealt with as soon as possible.

An appointment system is in operation in all offices. Customers will be advised when making an appointment of the documents required. Our registrars will endeavour to see you promptly. Delays are sometimes unavoidable but an explanation will always be given. Customers without appointments will be seen at the earliest possible opportunity.

We will do our utmost to assist if you have special needs and in appropriate cases we will arrange to visit you.

As a general guideline the time taken for an appointment will be:

Birth registration - approximately 30 minutes

Death registration - approximately 30 minutes

Notice of Marriage - approximately 30 minutes (per couple)

Notice of Civil Partnership - approximately 45 minutes (per couple)

Civil Marriage Ceremony - approximately 30 minutes

Civil Partnership Formation - approximately 30 minutes

Citizenship Ceremony - approximately 60 minutes

Nationality Checking Service - approximately 30 minutes for a single application - 60 minutes for a family application

If you are attending the Registration Office to register a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership you will be interviewed in private. The information you give us will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be passed to anyone who is not entitled to it by law. Details of the services we offer are available at all Registration Offices in leaflet form.

Please note that not all services are available at every office.