Chile Civil Registration: Difference between revisions

Civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1885. After this date, almost all individuals who lived in Chile are recorded. For many families, civil registration records are the only sources of information after this date. For birth, marriage, and death records before 1885, see [[Chile Church Records]].  

The information recorded in civil registration records varied over time. The later records generally give more complete information than earlier ones.  

The most important civil records for genealogical research are birth, marriage, and death registers. These registers are written in Spanish. Some registers may have an index. In some cases, a separate index may be available that covers a specific time period.  

Birth records generally give the child’s name; gender; and the date, time, and place of birth (which may be different than where the birth was registered). The birth record includes parents’ names; and may include the address of the house or the name of the hospital in which the birth took place. Births were generally registered within a few days of the child’s birth by the father or by a family relative or friend.  

Family information may also be included in the birth record, such as the parents’ ages, birthplaces or residences, marital status, professions, and number of other children born to the mother. You may also find information about the grandparents. Corrections to a birth record may have been added as a marginal note.  

Whether a marriage ceremony was performed by a civil or church authority, local laws required the marriage to be recorded in civil records first. It was usually recorded by the civil authority in the town where the bride resided.  

If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of the marriage, search the church marriage information records or banns.  

Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Civil death records often exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered in the town or city where the person died within a few days of the death.  

If your request is unsuccessful, search for duplicate records that may have been kept in other archives, or church registers. Also, please note that to protect the rights of privacy of living persons, most modern records have restrictions on their use and access.  

[[Category:Chile]]