GRO Refund - This record is currently unavailable to us. What does this mean?

[LivingInaBuildingSite]

I’ve done bits and bobs of family tree over the years.

A friend, call her Pat, contacted me to ask if I could order her birth certificate for her.

(It’s a bit weird that she doesn’t have one already and her mum doesn’t either. I asked and I know she’s in regular contact with her mum so nothing untoward there.)

After a few weeks wait, I got an email with a refund and the statement:

This record is currently unavailable to us. The record will be held by the Local Register Office where the event was registered.

What does this mean?
I know she’s had an unusual life but nothing that should impact on her birth cert surely?

I could travel to her register office in theory and look for it there (will probably be unable to resist if I’m honest) but I thought all modern stuff would be at the GRO. A 60’s birth.

Anyone come across similar and was there an answer?

That does seem odd.

Did she have the index reference, and were all the other details on the application definitely correct?

You probably won't be allowed to 'look for' it yourself, it will be another remote application.

I'm in the US so this may or may not be relative. Could your friend be adopted? Where I am birth records for adoptees are available at the state registrar, but not at the county registrar.

Her situation would be the reverse, but adoption may still be the reason why her BC is only available at the local level.

More likely to be the other way round here.

Well that is puzzling. Can you live a life without ever being registered at birth? Has she told you which hospital (and therefore district) she was born at?

Apologies for going awol, went to visit my brother, SIL and nephew.

After I posted I remembered her index entry was written over, so I didn’t have the actual numbers. Hers isn’t the only one on her page that’s written over.

The district is Hendon.

Pretty sure she’s not adopted. Her father was absent from early on.
She’s convinced it’s something state controlled because her paternal uncle went to prison for murder the year before she was born. I’m not sure about a link but can’t rule it out.

I’m hoping if I ring Hendon they can advise on what to do next.

If it's written over that may mean it was reregistered.

Were her parents married when she was born? Did her mother marry someone else who might have adopted her? Any names changes by anyone?

I think contacting Barnet Register Office (which covers Hendon) is the way to go; make sure you contact them directly and not one of the third party sites that will charge you extra:

www.barnet.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-marriages/order-copy-or-replacement-birth-death-marriage-certificate

Thanks @Ellmau.

I’ve asked her if her parents got married after her birth as that can instigate re registration.
Although I kind of knew they didn’t as her dad disappeared.

Anyway, she tells me her mum married her next partner a year after she was born (her stepdad). And her stepdad officially adopted her.

So presumably that made her birth get reregistered?

Haven’t managed to speak to anyone at the office yet. Can I still order her birth cert? Or adoption cert?

And how did she manage to get a passport without either of these already?!

It’s often just because it’s been misfiled or misplaced isn’t it?

I’ve spoken to someone at the register office and I can order direct through their website - needed a few more bits of info from my friend so I’ve done that and hopefully it will come in a week or two. (Cheaper than the GRO too!)

Turns out her mum was sent to a mother and baby unit to have a forced adoption which she refused to do, so was kicked out by her dad. The mum/grandma left with her and they lived together for a while. Brave ladies.

*Anyway, she tells me her mum married her next partner a year after she was born (her stepdad). And her stepdad officially adopted her.

So presumably that made her birth get reregistered?*

Yes, that would be it.

I'm still surprised the GRO doesn't have it though.

So, progress of a sort.

I have the birth cert from Barnet registration services. Shows her, her mother, place and date. Nothing she didn’t already know but may reassure her that she does exist!

A lady from Barnet rang me first though to say this kind of birth cert can’t be used for stuff like passports, etc. she needs the adoption certificate. Which she needs to order from the GRO.

Has anyone ever done this? I’ll have a look and see if I can do it for her as she’s not very technically minded.