Petition · Ministry of Justice
Fund free online access & release all historic birth, marriage & death records
Closed
54 signatures
What the petition asks
We urge the Government to provide funding to make digital images of historic (100+ years old) birth, marriage, and death certificates for England and Wales freely available online, and to digitise and release remaining records as part of the national heritage.
We believe these records are valuable for education, history, and family research. Other countries offer free or low-cost access. We believe the UK should treat these not as commercial products but as public records that are accessible to all.
Timeline
| 18 Aug 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 18 Feb 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
54
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
18 Aug 2025
Closed
18 Feb 2026
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 18 Aug 2026.