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3Information Recorded in Civil Registers

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Civil registration records (also known as vital records) are important for genealogical research in Mexico. Civil authorities began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1859 and most individuals who lived in Mexico after 1867 are recorded. Because the records cover such a large percentage of the population, they are extremely important sources for genealogical research in Mexico.

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For birth, death, and marriage records before 1859, see Mexico Church Records

General Historical Background[edit | edit source]

The earliest vital records in Mexico were made by the Catholic Church. In the late 1850s the Mexican government recognized the need for accurate vital records. On 28 July 1859, President Benito Juárez, speaking in Veracruz, established the Civil Registration Office (Registro Civil). The new law determined both the standards and information to be recorded. Justices of civil registration were established throughout the republic to implement the process of creating, witnessing, and safeguarding the civil register. Initially, the Mexican populace, accustomed to registering its vital events with the local parish church, opposed the register. It was not until the republic was restored in 1867 that civil registration was vigorously enforced.

Although civil registration records are an important source for genealogical research in Mexico, many births, marriages, and deaths were never recorded by civil authorities; therefore, you must use church records to supplement this genealogical source.

Information Recorded in Civil Registers[edit | edit source]

The information recorded in civil registration records varied over time. Later records generally give more complete information than the earlier ones. Birth, marriage, and death records may either be handwritten or typed, and are often indexed by given name or surname. Generally speaking, civil registration records throughout the country follow a similiar format.

Date, time of day, and place of registration
Name of civil registration officer recording the information
Name of informant, his or her age, occupation, residence, and possibly his or her birth place
Information about the event: date, time of day, location
Name of person whose event is being recorded
Age, occupation, birth place, civil status, if any, of the person whose event is being recorded
Names of parents, or spouse of person whose event is being recorded
Names of other relatives, such as grandparents in birth records
Names of witnesses along with information about their age, occupation, and relationship to the person whose event is being recorded, if any

Births (nacimientos)[edit | edit source]

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:

Day and time of birth
Names of the child and parents
Birthplace, which may be different from where it was registered
Address of the house or hospital in which the birth took place.

Family information may be included, such as:

Parents’ ages, birthplaces, residences, marital status, and professions
Number of other children born to the mother (occasionally).
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.

Marriages (matrimonios)[edit | edit source]

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Early civil marriage entries simply contained the name of the bride and groom and the marriage date. Gradually more information was entered such as:

Ages of the bride and groom
Birthplaces
Occupations
Civil status (if either had been married previously)
Residence of bride and groom
Names of parents

In current civil marriage records even street addresses are given.

The Catholic Church continued keeping records after the creation of the civil registration in 1859. Therefore two types of records are available for the marriages. Be sure to search both records.

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. Virtual dj 8 pro free download windows& ampyellowray. 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.

Divorce Records[edit | edit source]

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.

Deaths (defunciones)[edit | edit source]

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.

Search Strategies[edit | edit source]

To effectively use civil records, follow these steps:

Search for the relative or ancestor you have selected. When you find the person’s birth record, search for the births of his or her brothers and sisters.
Search