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Mexico Civil Registration: Difference between revisions
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MEXICO, DISTRITO FEDERAL, CIUDAD DE MEXICO - CIVIL REGISTRATION | MEXICO, DISTRITO FEDERAL, CIUDAD DE MEXICO - CIVIL REGISTRATION | ||
=== | === Types of Records === | ||
The information recorded in civil registration records varied over time. Later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. | The information recorded in civil registration records varied over time. Later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. | ||
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Birth, marriage, and death records may either be handwritten or typed, and are often indexed by given name or surname. | Birth, marriage, and death records may either be handwritten or typed, and are often indexed by given name or surname. | ||
=== Births (nacimientos) === | ==== Births (nacimientos) ==== | ||
Births were usually registered by the infant’s father or by a neighbor of the family within a few days of the event. If you are having trouble locating the birth record, keep in mind that the birth might have been reported months or years later. It is not common but it does happen. A birth record usually includes: | Births were usually registered by the infant’s father or by a neighbor of the family within a few days of the event. If you are having trouble locating the birth record, keep in mind that the birth might have been reported months or years later. It is not common but it does happen. A birth record usually includes: | ||
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*Names of grandparents. | *Names of grandparents. | ||
Corrections or additions to a birth record may have been added as a note in the margin.These notes might include information about the marriage or death of the child. | Corrections or additions to a birth record may have been added as a note in the margin.These notes might include information about the marriage or death of the child. | ||
=== Marriages (matrimonios) === | ==== Marriages (matrimonios) ==== | ||
Early civil marriage entries simply contained the name of the bride and groom and the marriage date. Gradually more information was entered such as: | Early civil marriage entries simply contained the name of the bride and groom and the marriage date. Gradually more information was entered such as: | ||
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With the separation of church and state in Mexico, formalized by the 1917 constitution, civil authorities determined that for couples to be legally married they had to be married by the state. Because of the close affinity of the Catholic Church and the state authorities, this rule was not always followed, and church weddings were accepted by the state. Normally, however, couples were married by civil authorities prior to a church wedding. On rare occasions they were married civilly after a church wedding. | With the separation of church and state in Mexico, formalized by the 1917 constitution, civil authorities determined that for couples to be legally married they had to be married by the state. Because of the close affinity of the Catholic Church and the state authorities, this rule was not always followed, and church weddings were accepted by the state. Normally, however, couples were married by civil authorities prior to a church wedding. On rare occasions they were married civilly after a church wedding. | ||
=== | ==== Deaths (defunciones) ==== | ||
Early civil death records are especially helpful because they might list people for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were recorded in the town or city where the person died, within a few days of the death. Death records may provide the following information: | |||
*Name of decedent | |||
*Date and place of death | |||
*Birthplace and/or age at death | |||
*Name of spouse, if married | |||
*Names of parents, usually if the person was single. | |||
*Residence of decedent | |||
*Occupation of decedent | |||
*Cause of death (in more recent years) | |||
*Burial information | |||
*Name of informant (in more recent years) | |||
Be aware that information found in a death record about the deceased person’s parents, birth date, birthplace, and other information may be inaccurate as the person who gave the information may not have had complete information. | |||
==== Divorce Records ==== | |||
Divorce was not legalized in Mexico until after the 1917 constitution. Divorces are not recorded with the civil registration, but rather with the municipio 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 municipio where the divorce took place. | |||
=== Locating Civil Registration Records === | === Locating Civil Registration Records === | ||
==== Collections available on FamilySearch ==== | |||
There is a listing of [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1®ion=MEXICO all records collections available] on FamilySearch.org. | |||
A general article describing the collections is available at [[Mexico Civil Registration Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]. | |||
'''Wiki articles describing the states' collections are found at:''' | |||
*[[Mexico, Baja California and Baja California Sur, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Campeche, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Chihuahua, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Coahuila, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Colima, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Distrito Federal Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Durango, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Guanajuato, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Guerrero, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Hidalgo, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Jalisco, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Michoacan, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, México, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Morelos, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Nayarit, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Nuevo León, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Oaxaca, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Puebla, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Querétaro, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Quintana Roo, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, San Luis Potosí, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Sonora, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Tamaulipas, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Veracruz, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
*[[Mexico, Zacatecas, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)]] | |||
=== Records at the Family History Library === | ==== Records at the Family History Library ==== | ||
The Family History Library has microfilmed the civil registration records of thousands of municipios throughout Mexico. These records are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog. | The Family History Library has microfilmed the civil registration records of thousands of municipios throughout Mexico. These records are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog. | ||
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=== Locating Records Not at the Family History Library === | === Locating Records Not at the Family History Library === | ||
Civil registration records are kept by all the states on a municipio level. The exceptions are the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, where the records are recorded by the municipio but are archived on a district level, and the Distrito Federal (Federal District), where they are kept in delegations. Because of this, it is difficult to obtain records from these two states and the Federal District. In these three instances, as well as in the rest of the nation, the populace still registered in their local civil registration offices, from which the records were sent to the municipio office, district office, or delegation office. If you know the town where your family lived, you should be able to find the local civil registration office. | |||
Birth, marriage, and death records may be obtained by contacting or visiting local civil registration offices and state civil archives in Mexico. To protect the rights of privacy of living persons, most records with current information have restrictions on their use and access. The present location of records depends on whether local offices have sent their records to the higher jurisdiction. Most recent records will be found in the local civil registration offices. Older records may be found in the ''municipio'' or state archive. | Each state now has a central civil registration office to which you can write for information. Birth, marriage, and death records may be obtained by contacting or visiting local civil registration offices and state civil archives in Mexico. To protect the rights of privacy of living persons, most records with current information have restrictions on their use and access. The present location of records depends on whether local offices have sent their records to the higher jurisdiction. Most recent records will be found in the local civil registration offices. Older records may be found in the ''municipio'' or state archive. | ||
You may obtain copies of civil registration records in Mexico by writing to the local civil registry in the ''municipio''. However, some archives will not send photocopies, and some will also ask for power of attorney to receive a certificate of an individual other than the correspondent. Civil officials will generally answer correspondence in Spanish. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to state archives. | You may obtain copies of civil registration records in Mexico by writing to the local civil registry in the ''municipio''. However, some archives will not send photocopies, and some will also ask for power of attorney to receive a certificate of an individual other than the correspondent. Civil officials will generally answer correspondence in Spanish. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to state archives. | ||
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After deciding who has jurisdiction over the records for the time period you need, write a brief request to the proper office, including: | After deciding who has jurisdiction over the records for the time period you need, write a brief request to the proper office, including: | ||
*A check or cash for the search fee, which is usually $10. Check with the civil registration office or archive about making arrangements for payment as banking practices differ widely. | *A check or cash for the search fee, which is usually $10. Check with the civil registration office or archive about making arrangements for payment as banking practices differ widely. | ||
*The full name and the sex of the person sought. | *The full name and the sex of the person sought. | ||
*The names of his or her parents, if known. | *The names of his or her parents, if known. | ||
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{{Place|Mexico}} | {{Place|Mexico}} | ||