Church parish registers are the foundation of genealogical research in Eastern Europe, but civil registration of vital events is also an important consideration. Although civil registration generally began during the 1800s in most areas, the depth of information in these records makes them a valuable source for learning more about people who were registered. Most civil registrations of births, marriages, and deaths provide significantly more information than is found in comparable church registers. In addition, they are often indexed and therefore easier to use. Unfortunately, access to such records is often restricted by availability (they often begin much later than research needs would require) and privacy laws regulating public access. In this course, you will learn the value of civil registration records, what types of records are available, how to access them, the nature and extent of access and privacy restrictions. In addition, you will learn about key terminology, how to deal with foreign language challenges, and other obstacles and key tips on reading and interpreting birth, marriage, and death records.
Course Content
Module 1
Civil Registration Process
Locating Civil Registration Records
Indexes to Civil Registration Records
Civil Registration Overview by Country
Albania
Austria
Belarus
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Georgia
Hungary
Kosovo
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Moldova
Montenegro
Poland
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Ukraine
Vital Records/Civil Registration Checklist
Dates
Napoleon’s Influence
Registration Purpose
Role of the Civil Registrar
Duplicate Church Records
Module 2
Birth Records
Introduction
Birth Civil Registrations
Basic Information in Birth Civil Registrations
Example Birth Records
Module 3
Marriage Records
Introduction
Marriage Civil Registrations
Marriage Records
Basic Information in Civil Marriage Records
Example Marriage Records
Divorce Records
Module 4
Death Records
Introduction
Death Civil Registrations
Death Records
Basic Information in Civil Death Records
Example Death Records
Module 5
Accessing Civil Records
Family History Library & FamilySearch
Online Records
How to Search the Collection
Online Databases
Commercial Websites
Country Specific
Indexes
Modern Place Names
Correspondence & In-Person Research
Guidebooks
Correspondence
In-Person Research
Module 6
Challenges, Laws & Rights of Privacy
Privacy Laws by Country
Lost or Destroyed Records
Languages
Search Tips
Other Obstacles
Tales from the Slovak Archives
A Case Study in Patience and Perseverance
Not All Archives are Created Equal
Before You Visit
State Regional Archive
Vranov Archive
Nizny Hrabovec Town Hall
Podolinec City Office
Appendix
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