HATCHES, MATCHES AND DISPATCHES.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is proposing to increase its fees and has launched a public consultation.

The Registrar General for Scotland oversees the registration of vital life events, including births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships. Successive Registrars General have held this responsibility for over 170 years, since registration moved from church to state in 1855. The Registrar General also oversee the legislation relating to the formalities of marriage and civil partnership and the conduct of civil marriage ceremonies.

The Scotland’s People site is an online resource managed by NRS. 1.3 million people are registered on the site and use it for family and historical research. It has records going back to 1855, and with even earlier parish records. The site is viewed worldwide and has  5.5 million pages accessed each month.

The fees NRS charge for their services have not increased for 15 years.

“The Registrar General nor district registrars currently recover the full cost of the services they provide. Without a review, there is a risk that services could deteriorate due to insufficient funding.”

The registration service operates as a partnership between NRS and Scotland’s 32 local authorities. District registrars are local authority employees who carry out registration duties under instructions, guidance and statutory requirements set by the Registrar General. NRS assists this work by providing operational registration systems, national guidance, support and training.

Proposed revised fees

Internet search

Click on this link to access more information about the proposed changes and how you can share your views: Registration Services, Fees Review.

Alison Byrne OBE, NRS Chief Executive, said:

“Scotland’s system of civil registration has served people for over 170 years, recording the births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships that mark the most important moments in our lives.

“The consultation sets out proposals to revise fees so that they better reflect the true cost of delivering these services.

“This will help ensure that our services continue to serve everyone well, now and in the future.

“I would encourage everyone with an interest in these services to take the time to read the consultation paper and share your views. Every response will be carefully considered and will inform the final decisions we make.”

The consultation closes on 4 October 2026.