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A civil registry is the government system for recording vital events (births, marriages, deaths), maintained by local authorities and used as the primary source of vital records in CBD cases.
In depth
A civil registry (also called civil registration) is the government system for recording vital events — births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. Civil registries are maintained by local authorities (communes, municipalities, counties) and are the primary source of vital records in CBD cases.
Civil registration was established at different times in different countries: France (1792), Italy (1866 nationwide), Germany (1876 nationwide), England and Wales (1837), Scotland (1855), Ireland (1864), Poland (1945 nationwide), and most of Latin America (late 1800s-early 1900s).
Before civil registration, vital events were recorded by churches (parish records). For CBD cases involving ancestors born before civil registration, parish records are the primary source.
Related terms
A vital record is a government-recorded document that certifies a vital event — birth, marriage, divorce, or death — and is the primary evidence in CBD cases.
A parish record is a church document (baptism, marriage, burial) maintained by a parish, used as a substitute for civil records in historic CBD cases.
A long-form birth certificate is a detailed birth certificate that includes the child's and parents' full information, required for most CBD applications.
A short-form birth certificate is a simplified birth certificate showing only the child's basic information, typically not accepted for CBD applications.
A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been verified as a true and accurate copy by the issuing authority, typically required for CBD applications.
A marriage certificate is a vital record that certifies a marriage, required for CBD cases to establish the legitimacy of the descent line.