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Germany Civil Registration: Difference between revisions
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=== Historical Background === | === Historical Background === | ||
Civil registration was begun in France with a law passed by the | Civil registration was begun in France with a law passed by the National Assembly on 20 Sep 1792. Alsace and Lorraine, which were under French rule at that time, were the first German areas to keep civil records of births, marriages, and deaths. French occupation of the areas left of the Rhine River in 1796 to 1798 brought civil registration to these areas as well. As the French advanced into other areas of Germany, they required local governments to keep civil records of births, marriages, and deaths. After Napoleon was defeated, civil registration was discontinued in many parts of Germany and replaced by parish register duplicates used for civil purposes, such as conscription. In Prussia, civil births, marriages, and deaths were kept again beginning in October 1874. Civil registration became mandatory in all German states on 1 January 1876. The records are created and kept by the Standesamt. | ||
Between 1792 and 1876, most German states or provinces developed their own separate laws and civil registration systems. Some civil registration offices were established later than others. Therefore, the date a particular state began civil registration is only a general guideline and does not always apply to every town within its borders. In 1876 civil registration began in all of Germany, and since 1876 almost every German has been registered with the local civil government authorities. | Between 1792 and 1876, most German states or provinces developed their own separate laws and civil registration systems. Some civil registration offices were established later than others. Therefore, the date a particular state began civil registration is only a general guideline and does not always apply to every town within its borders. In 1876 civil registration began in all of Germany, and since 1876 almost every German has been registered with the local civil government authorities. | ||
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A direct relationship to the subject of the record sought will only be required in cases where the required time period has not yet elapsed. Even then, the records may be accessible if it can be shown that all "participating parties" have died at least 30 years ago. Participating parties are both parents and the child in birth records, and both spouses in a marriage. Special regulations apply to records of adoptees and other special-needs groups. <br> | A direct relationship to the subject of the record sought will only be required in cases where the required time period has not yet elapsed. Even then, the records may be accessible if it can be shown that all "participating parties" have died at least 30 years ago. Participating parties are both parents and the child in birth records, and both spouses in a marriage. Special regulations apply to records of adoptees and other special-needs groups. <br> | ||
If the records were created more recently than these time periods, and the death of the participants cannot be proven, the former restrictions still apply. Paragraph 61 of the [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personenstandsgesetz_(Deutschland) Personenstandsgesetz] clearly defines who has a legal right to civil registration information under these | If the records were created more recently than these time periods, and the death of the participants cannot be proven, the former restrictions still apply. Paragraph 61 of the [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personenstandsgesetz_(Deutschland) Personenstandsgesetz] clearly defines who has a legal right to civil registration information under these circumstances. When requesting a record from the Standesamt (civil registration office), the relationship to the person named in the record should be clearly stated. In 2008, the fee for a copy of a civil birth-, marriage-, or death record was seven Euros plus postage.<br> | ||
Civil registrars often use international extract forms to fill requests from foreign countries. Not all the information present in the original record may be copied onto the extract. As a rule, marginal notes are left out, but other details from the record, such as parents’ names and residences in marriage records, may be omitted.<br> | Civil registrars often use international extract forms to fill requests from foreign countries. Not all the information present in the original record may be copied onto the extract. As a rule, marginal notes are left out, but other details from the record, such as parents’ names and residences in marriage records, may be omitted.<br> | ||
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*'''Marriage Supplements''' [Heiratsbeilagen] were often filed by the bride or groom to support their marriage application. Information included may document their births, their parents' deaths, and the groom's release from military service. Sometimes the records contain information about earlier generations. | *'''Marriage Supplements''' [Heiratsbeilagen] were often filed by the bride or groom to support their marriage application. Information included may document their births, their parents' deaths, and the groom's release from military service. Sometimes the records contain information about earlier generations. | ||
*'''Contracts '''[Ehekontrakte] are documents created to protect legal rights and property of spouses. These may give the same information as the marriage supplements noted above. They also list property and are usually found in court records rather than in civil registration records. | *'''Contracts '''[Ehekontrakte] are documents created to protect legal rights and property of spouses. These may give the same information as the marriage supplements noted above. They also list property and are usually found in court records rather than in civil registration records. | ||
*'''Marriage Permission Papers '''[Verehelichungsakten] are documents created in the process of obtaining permission to get married. Some states required prospective spouses to get permission | *'''Marriage Permission Papers '''[Verehelichungsakten] are documents created in the process of obtaining permission to get married. Some states required prospective spouses to get permission from the local city council or mayor before they could be married. For Bavaria and Hessen-Nasssau many of these files have been microfilmed. They may be cataloged under "court records", "civil registration", or "public records." | ||
=== Marriage Records === | === Marriage Records === | ||
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After determining who has jurisdiction over the records for the time period you need, write a short request to the proper office. Be careful not to ask for too much when writing German archives. They can briefly answer questions about the records in their collection, but are often reluctant to do research in these records. You may have more success if you ask for a referral or a list of local researchers you could hire to search the archive's records. See [[Germany Letter Writing Guide]] for more information about writing letters to Germany. | After determining who has jurisdiction over the records for the time period you need, write a short request to the proper office. Be careful not to ask for too much when writing German archives. They can briefly answer questions about the records in their collection, but are often reluctant to do research in these records. You may have more success if you ask for a referral or a list of local researchers you could hire to search the archive's records. See [[Germany Letter Writing Guide]] for more information about writing letters to Germany. | ||
=== Records | === Records from Towns Now in Poland === | ||
Extracts of German records requested from towns now in Poland will be written in Polish. Addresses of civil registration offices in formerly German areas of Poland, along with an inventory of available German civil registration records, are found in:<br>Brόzka, Tomascz. Deutsche Personenstandsbücher und Personenstandseinträge von Deutschen in Polen 1898 bis 1945. Frankfurt a/Main und Berlin: Verlag für Standesamtswesen, 2000. ISBN 3-8019-5674-1. (Int’l Ref area 943.8 V23b copy 3). The addresses of Civil Registration Offices in Poland can also be found online at the Polish website Platforma Usług Stanu Cywilnego ([http://www.usc.pl/zasieg http://www.usc.pl/zasieg]).<br> | Extracts of German records requested from towns now in Poland will be written in Polish. Addresses of civil registration offices in formerly German areas of Poland, along with an inventory of available German civil registration records, are found in:<br>Brόzka, Tomascz. Deutsche Personenstandsbücher und Personenstandseinträge von Deutschen in Polen 1898 bis 1945. Frankfurt a/Main und Berlin: Verlag für Standesamtswesen, 2000. ISBN 3-8019-5674-1. (Int’l Ref area 943.8 V23b copy 3). The addresses of Civil Registration Offices in Poland can also be found online at the Polish website Platforma Usług Stanu Cywilnego ([http://www.usc.pl/zasieg http://www.usc.pl/zasieg]).<br> | ||