Czechia Civil Registration

Revision as of 16:06, 16 September 2024 by Amberannelarsen (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "==How to Find the Records==↵↵===Online Collections===" to "==Resources== ===Online Resources===")

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Resources

Online Resources

Records Online

To check whether specific civil records are already online:

  • Using the GenTeam gazetteer, search for your town.
  • Click on the archival link in GenTeam or follow the instructions in the relevant how-to guide instructions and locate the civil records. For example, if researching in Plzeň:
    • Click on the Pilsen (Plzeň) archival link.
    • In the first search box on the left (Titel/Nadpis), type the name of your town. In the year boxes (on the right), type the year range of interest and click OK.
    • Click on a book of interest and browse (* = births, oo = marriages, + = deaths, i = index); those labeled Standesamt or Okresní úřad as part of the linked blue book title are civil records, whereas those without such a designation are church records.
  • Alternatively:
    • On the Plzeň archival site, click on the three-line icon in the upper left corner containing the word Obsah/Inhalt (content).
    • Select the Matriky/Matriken icon.
    • Select both of the last two options:
      • Okresní úřad, národní výbor (1869-1949); these are non-denominational/civil registration records
      • Standesamt (1938-1945); these are civil registration records
    • Using the GenTeam gazetteer, determine the district (Bezirk) your town belonged to.
    • On the "Okresní úřad, národní výbor (1869-1949)" or "Standesamt (1938-1945)" page, click on each of your district's listings.
    • Click on a book to browse the digital images.

Offices to Contact

Municipal and sub-district vital records offices (matriční úřady)
See List of matriční úřady.
Instructions:

To view a list of offices within your district:

Some information can be obtained by correspondence or by visiting the vital records offices in person.[1]

Use the Czechia Letter Writing Guide for help with writing for records.

Historical Background

  • During the time of Austrian rule there were a few civil registers started in 1870 to record those of dissident faiths or to record the baptisms of children of mixed marriages but these are still categorized as church registers.
  • Another law in 1885 allowed for the recording of mixed marriages and children of mixed marriages to be recorded in quasi civil registers by local civil officials.
  • In 1921 registration by civil authorities was enacted into law throughout the new Czechoslovak Republic.

Civil Registration [Civilní matriky]

Coverage and Compliance

Information Recorded in the Records

Births

  • Name of child
  • Date of entry
  • Place and date of birth
  • Names, ages and residence of parents, until 1948, also the religion of parents
  • Names of witnesses

Marriages

  • Date and place of marriage
  • Names
  • Occupations
  • Dates and places of birth and residences of groom and bride
  • Names and residences of parents and witnesses
  • Until 1948, also the religion

Deaths

  • Name
  • Occupation
  • Residence and age of the deceased
  • Dates of death and entry
  • Names of surviving spouse and parents
  • Place and cause of death
  • Until 1948, also the religion

References

  1. The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Czech Republic,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1999.