Open & Closed record - can you summarise this for me ?

Answer:

You can read more about closed and open records in our various blog posts here but to summarise, if someone was born less than 100 years ago and is still alive, their record will be closed. If someone was born less than 100 years ago and died after 1991, their record will be closed. If someone was born over 100 years ago, their record will be open, likewise if someone was born less than 100 years ago but who died prior to 1991 (where a D-Code has been added to the Register.)

If there is an individual whose record should be open but isn't, because the person has died or is over 100, you can submit evidence of death (a death certificate) and if you're a Findmypast subscriber, we'll open the record for free. If you're not a subscriber, this request will go via The National Archives, who will charge a flat fee of £25.

To request that a record be opened, go to the their household on the Register, and click the 'Open a closed record'.

If you happen across someone whose record should be closed due to them still being alive, click 'Close an open record'.

You will find that some people who died prior to 1991 have closed records. This is down to the fact that not every death was added to the Register by the NHS. Unfortunately this is out of our control, however if you submit evidence of death we or The National Archives will open the record for you.

We're working on cross referencing our death records with the Register in order to open more records. In addition, we'll be running weekly updates that open the records of everyone who passes the 100 year threshold.

If you buy a household and a person in that household's record opens up after the 100 year limit, you'll be able to see that record at no additional cost.

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