Argentina Civil Registration: Difference between revisions

Civil registration registers are maintained by the office of the Dirección del Registro Civil in the municipal district. The original book stays in the municipal office and duplicate copies are sent to the provincial or judicial archives of the province or the General Archive of the Tribunal in the federal district.

A village may belong civilly to a larger nearby town. In large cities, there may be many civil registration districts. Use gazetteers and other geographic references to identify the place your ancestor lived and the civil registration office that served it. See Argentina Gazetteers.

Local Civil Registration Municipal Offices[edit | edit source]

An example of an address format is:

Dirección del Registro Civil

Oficina de Inscripciones y Rectificaciones

(City), (Province), Argentina

Find the Argentina postal code here.

Provincial Archives and Tribunal Archives[edit | edit source]

The civil registration records for the federal district are preserved on microfiche and there is a general index by sex and type of record (birth, marriages, deaths, recognitions, inscriptions and adoptions).

For the province of Buenos Aires, use the following:

Registro Provincial de las Personas
Calle 1 y 60 N° 1342
La Plata (1900)
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Telephone: +54 0221-429-6200
Email: gba.gob.ar
Email: dprp@gob.gba.gov.ar

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

The earliest vital records in Argentina were made by the churches. In 1886 the civil government began keeping vital records. Even though the law was passed in 1886, most of the provinces started keeping records at different times. Most had the system going by 1900. After that date, most individuals who lived in Argentina are recorded.

Coverage and Compliance[edit | edit source]

Every municipal district was to make duplicate copies of their books. In Buenos Aires they kept the original books and sent the copies to the Archivo General de Tribunales in the Federal District. In the provinces they were to be send the copies to the provincial or judicial archives of each province.

According to the law, the public has liberal access to the civil records. The director of the civil archive is required to provide interested parties with a complete copy of any record, including marginal notes, under his jurisdiction.

Information Recorded in the Records[edit | edit source]

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

Births Records (nacimientos)[edit | edit source]

Births were usually registered by the infant’s father or by a neighbor or friend of the family within a few days of the event.

A birth record includes:

Day and time of the birth
Name of the newborn
Names of parents
Town where the birth occurred, which may be different than where it was registered
Address of the house or hospital in which the birth took place
Age of the parents
Their birthplaces or residences
Marital status
Professions
Number of other children born to the mother
Sometimes information about the grandparents

Corrections or additions to a birth record may have been added as a note in the margin.

Marriage Records (matrimonios, casamientos)[edit | edit source]

Early civil marriage entries simply contained:

Name of the bride and groom
Marriage date

Later records may include:

Ages of the bride and groom
Occupations
Civil status
Residence
Names of their parents
Sometimes names of grandparents
Sometimes birth places for the bride and groom

Because the Catholic Church continued keeping records after the creation of the civil registration in 1886, two types of records are available for the marriages. Be sure to search both records.

Divorce Records (divorcios)[edit | edit source]

Divorces are not recorded with the civil registration, but rather in the courts. The FamilySearch Library has very few divorce records in its collection.

You may obtain information from divorce records by contacting the court of the town or municipality where the divorce took place.

Death Records (defunciones)[edit | edit source]

Early civil death records list:

Person’s birth
Spouse and/or parents

Deaths were recorded within a few days of the event in the town or city where the person died.

Later death records generally give:

Name
Date and place of death
Sometimes age or date of birth of a child
Place of residence
Occupation
Cause of death
Burial information
Informant's name (often a relative)
Name of a spouse or parents

Extract Forms[edit | edit source]

The following extract forms were created by Dr. George Ryskamp, JD, AG. These particular forms are designed to be used for Spanish research; however, they can help in other research areas, such as Italy, France, Portugal, etc. Click on the type of record form you would like to use and print it for your own files.

Birth/Baptism Extract Form

Marriage Extract Form

Death/Burial Extract Form

These forms are designed to help you quickly analyze and organize your documents. They can become a personal index for your family records.

References[edit | edit source]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== '''Introduction''' ==
+{{CountrySidebar
+|Country=Argentina
+|Name=Argentina
+|Type=Topic
+|Topic Type=Records
+|Records=Civil Registration
+|Rating=Standardized
+}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[Argentina Genealogy|Argentina]]
+| link2=
+| link3=
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Argentina Civil Registration|Civil Registration]]
+}}
+==How to Find the Records==
-Civil registration is the vital records made by the government. Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly referred to as "vital records" because they refer to critical events in a person's life. Civil registration (Registros Civiles) records are an excellent source for accurate information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. In addition, civil registration may include divorce records.
+===Online Collections===
-Civil records are essential for research in Argentina. Civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1886. After that date, most individuals who lived in Argentina are recorded. Because they cover so large a part of the population and because they are indexed, easily accessible to the local public, and provide more information than church records, civil registration records are an important source for genealogical research in Argentina.
+*'''1722-1911''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1520572 Argentina Marriages, 1722-1911 (Argentina matrimonios, 1722-1911)] at FamilySearch - [[Argentina Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index, incomplete; ''also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9772 Ancestry]'' ($),  ''[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30083/argentina-marriages-1722-1911 MyHeritage]'' ($)
-For birth, death, and marriage records before 1886, see the "'''[[Argentina Church Records|Church Records]]'''" section of this outline. Online Resources
+*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-births-and-baptisms British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms], Findmypast, index and images ($)
+*[http://search.findmypast.com/results/world-records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-banns-and-marriages?country=algeria British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, Angola], Findmypast, index and images ($)
+*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-deaths-and-burials British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials], Findmypast, index and images ($)
-== '''General Historical Background ''' ==
+===Offices to Contact===
-The earliest vital records in Argentina were made by the churches. In 1886 the civil government began keeping vital records. Even though the law was passed in 1886 most of the provinces started keeping records at different times. Most had the system going by 1900.
+Argentina has no single repository of civil registration records.
-Every municipal district was to make duplicate copies of their books. In Buenos Aires they kept the original books and send the copies to the Archivo General de Tribunales in the Federal District. In the provinces they were to be send the copies to the provincial or judicial archives of each province.
+Civil registration registers are maintained by the office of the Dirección del Registro Civil in the municipal district. The original book stays in the municipal office and duplicate copies are sent to the provincial or judicial archives of the province or the General Archive of the Tribunal in the federal district.
-According to the law, the public has liberal access to the civil records. The director of the civil archive is required to provide interested parties with a complete copy of any record, including marginal notes, under his jurisdiction.
+A village may belong civilly to a larger nearby town. In large cities, there may be many civil registration districts. Use gazetteers and other geographic references to identify the place your ancestor lived and the civil registration office that served it. See [[Argentina Gazetteers]].
+====Local Civil Registration Municipal Offices====
-Although civil registration records are an important source for genealogical research in Argentina, many births, marriages, and deaths were never recorded by civil authorities and you must use church records to supplement this genealogical source.
+An example of an address format is:
-== '''Information Recorded in Civil Registers ''' ==
+::Dirección del Registro Civil<br>
+::Oficina de Inscripciones y Rectificaciones<br>
+::(City), (Province), Argentina
-The information recorded in civil registration records varied over time. The later records generally give more complete  information than the earlier ones.
+*[http://www.mapsofworld.com/postal-codes/country-argentina.html '''Find the Argentina postal code here.''']
-The most important civil records for genealogical research are birth, marriage, and death registers. These records may be either hand or typewritten.
+====Provincial Archives and Tribunal Archives====
-'''''Births (nacimientos)'''''
+The civil registration records for the federal district are preserved on microfiche and there is a general index by sex and type of record (birth, marriages, deaths, recognitions, inscriptions and adoptions). <br>
-Births were usually registered by the infant’s father or by a neighbor or friend of the family within a few days of the event. A birth record includes the day and time of the birth, the name of the newborn, names of parents, the town where the birth occurred, which may be different than where it was registered, and the address of the house or hospital in which the birth took place. Family information may be included, such as the age of the parents, their birthplaces or residences, marital status, professions, and the number of other children born to the mother. You may also find information about the grandparents.
+For the province of Buenos Aires, use the following:
-Corrections or additions to a birth record may have been added as a note in the margin.
+[https://www.gba.gob.ar/registrodelaspersonas Registro Provincial de las Personas]<br>
+Calle 1 y 60 N° 1342 <br>
+La Plata (1900)<br>
+Buenos Aires, Argentina<br>
-'''''Marriages (matrimonios, casamientos)'''''
+Telephone: +54 0221-429-6200<br>
+Email: [mailto:gba.gob.ar gba.gob.ar]<br>
+Email: [mailto:dprp@gob.gba.gov.ar dprp@gob.gba.gov.ar]
-Early civil marriage entries simply contained the name of the bride and groom and the marriage date. Later more information was entered which may include the ages of the bride and groom, their occupations, civil status, and residence. The names of their parents and even grandparents were given at times along with the birth places for the bride and groom. In current civil marriage records even street addresses are given.
+==Historical Background==
-Because the Catholic Church continued keeping records after the creation of the civil registration in 1886, two types of records are available for the marriages. Be sure to search both records.
+The earliest vital records in Argentina were made by the churches. In 1886 the civil government began keeping vital records. Even though the law was passed in 1886,  most of the provinces started keeping records at different times. Most had the system going by 1900.  After that date, most individuals who lived in Argentina are recorded.
-'''''Divorce Records (Divorcios) <br />'''''
+==Coverage and Compliance==
-Divorces are not recorded with the civil registration, but rather in the courts. The Family History Library has very few divorce records in its collection. You may obtain information from divorce records by contacting the court of the town or municipality where the divorce took place.
+Every municipal district was to make duplicate copies of their books. In Buenos Aires they kept the original books and sent the copies to the Archivo General de Tribunales in the Federal District. In the provinces they were to be send the copies to the provincial or judicial archives of each province.
-'''''Deaths (defunciones)'''''
+According to the law, the public has liberal access to the civil records. The director of the civil archive is required to provide interested parties with a complete copy of any record, including marginal notes, under his jurisdiction.
-Early civil death records are especially helpful because they list people for whom there are no birth or marriage records, and they may provide information about the person’s birth, spouse, and/or parents. Deaths were recorded within a few days of the event in the town or city where the person died.
+==Information Recorded in the Records==
-Death records generally give the name, date, and place of death. Depending on the clerk who registered the death, the record may also include the age or date of birth of a child, place of residence, occupation, cause of death, burial information, and the informant's name (often a relative). They often provide the name of a spouse or parents.
+The information recorded in civil registration records varied over time. The later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones.
-Be aware that information about parents, birth date, and birthplace of the deceased person and other information in a death record may be inaccurate since the person who gave the information may not have had complete information.
+===Births Records (nacimientos)===
-== '''Locating Civil Registration Records ''' ==
+Births were usually registered by the infant’s father or by a neighbor or friend of the family within a few days of the event.
-Civil registration records are kept at the local municipal district civil registration office [Dirección del Registro Civil ]. Therefore, you must determine the municipal district where your ancestor lived before you can find the records. The judicial or provincial archives as well as the tribunals in the federal district have some duplicate records that the municipal district have send to them.
+A birth record includes:
+*Day and time of the birth
+*Name of the newborn
+*Names of parents
+*Town where the birth occurred, which may be different than where it was registered
+*Address of the house or hospital in which the birth took place
+*Age of the parents
+*Their birthplaces or residences
+*Marital status
+*Professions
+*Number of other children born to the mother
+*Sometimes information about the grandparents
-Your ancestor may have lived in a village that belonged civilly to a larger nearby town. In large cities, there may be many civil registration districts. You may need to use gazetteers and other geographic references to identify the place your ancestor lived and the civil registration office that served it. See the "Gazetteers" section of this outline. In addition to the town, you need to know at least an approximate year in which the birth, marriage, divorce, or death occurred.
+Corrections or additions to a birth record may have been added as a note in the margin.
-'''''Indexes to Civil Registration Records'''''
+===Marriage Records (matrimonios, casamientos)===
-Births, marriages, and deaths were written in the civil registration records as they occurred and thus are arranged  chronologically. Some provinces and some of the tribunals of the federal district have indexed their records. You will need to ask, to see if the records you want to search are indexed.
+Early civil marriage entries simply contained:
+*Name of the bride and groom
+*Marriage date
-Where available, indexes can help you find your ancestor more easily. The Family History Library has not microfilmed the civil registration records of Argentina. The Library's collection continues to grow as new records are microfilmed and added to the collection from numerous sources. Don't give up if records are not available yet. The Family History Library Catalog is updated periodically. Check it again every year for the records you need.
+Later records may include:
+*Ages of the bride and groom
+*Occupations
+*Civil status
+*Residence
+*Names of their parents
+*Sometimes names of grandparents
+*Sometimes birth places for the bride and groom
-'''''Locating Records Not at the Family History ''''''Library'''''
+Because the Catholic Church continued keeping records after the creation of the civil registration in 1886, two types of records are available for the marriages. Be sure to search both records.
-Birth, marriage, divorce, and death records may be found by contacting or visiting local civil registration offices or provincial  archives in Argentina.
+===Divorce Records (divorcios)===
-Argentina has no single repository of civil registration records. The present location of records depends on several factors. Records may be available at several locations, including:
+Divorces are not recorded with the civil registration, but rather in the courts. The FamilySearch Library has very few divorce records in its collection.
-''Local civil registration municipal offices.'' Civil registration registers are maintained by the office of the Dirección del Registro Civil in the municipal district. The original book stays in the municipal office and duplicate copies are sent to the provincial or judicial archives of the province or the General Archive of the Tribunal in the federal district. The public has access to the books.
+You may obtain information from divorce records by contacting the court of the town or municipality where the divorce took place.
-Civil registration records in Argentina are available by writing to the local civil registration office. Civil officials will generally answer correspondence in Spanish. Use the following address:
+===Death Records (defunciones)===
-Dirección del Registro Civil<br />        Oficina de Inscripciones y Rectificaciones<br />        (City), (Province), Argentina
+Early civil death records list:
+*Person’s birth
+*Spouse and/or parents
-''Provincial archives and Tribunal archives.'' These archives maintain the duplicates sent to them by the municipal districts. You may write to these archives and request searches of the records. The civil registration records for the federal district are preserved on microfiche and there is a general index by sex and type of record (birth, marriages, deaths, recognitions, inscriptions and adoptions). The public has access to these records. For the province of Buenos Aires you will need to write to the following address:
+Deaths were recorded within a few days of the event in the town or city where the person died.
-Registro Provincial de las Personas<br />        Calle 1 y 60<br />        La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina<br />        Telephone: 0221-429-6200
+Later death records generally give:
+*Name
+*Date and place of death
+*Sometimes age or date of birth of a child
+*Place of residence
+*Occupation
+*Cause of death
+*Burial information
+*Informant's name (often a relative)
+*Name of a spouse or parents
-After deciding who has jurisdiction over the records for the time period you need, write a brief request to the proper office. See Letter–Writing Guide: Spanish (02362–45000). Send the following:
+== Extract Forms  ==
-• Full name and the sex of the person sought.
+The following extract forms were created by Dr. George Ryskamp, JD, AG. These particular forms are designed to be used for Spanish research; however, they can help in other research areas, such as Italy, France, Portugal, etc. Click on the type of record form you would like to use and print it for your own files.
-• Names of the parents, if known.
+[[Media:Baptism_template.pdf|Birth/Baptism Extract Form]]
-• Approximate date and place of the event.
+[[Media:Marriage_Template.pdf|Marriage Extract Form]]
-• Your relationship to the person.
+[[Media:Death_Template.pdf|Death/Burial Extract Form]]
-• Reason for the request (family history, medical, etc.).
+These forms are designed to help you quickly analyze and organize your documents. They can become a personal index for your family records.
-• Request for a photocopy of the complete original record.
+==References==
-• Check or cash for the search fee (usually about $10.00).
+[[es:Registro Civil de Argentina]]
-If your request is unsuccessful, search for duplicate records that may have been filed in other archives, church registers, or provincial archives.
+[[Category:Argentina]] [[Category:Civil_Registration]]