Genealogical Search
A genealogical search allows individuals to discover more about their family history. While our office is one place to search, records may also be found through churches, the Provincial Archives of Alberta, the Alberta Genealogical Society, and libraries.
When searching through Alberta Vital Statistics, it's recommended to request a certified photocopy of a registration, as this document contains the most information.
Available Records
Vital Statistics only has records for births, marriages, deaths, and stillbirths that were registered in Alberta. If an event was not registered, we will not have a record of it.
- Birth records begin in 1853 (becoming more plentiful around 1915).
- Marriage records begin in 1875 (becoming more plentiful around 1920).
- Death records begin in 1883 (becoming more plentiful around 1905).
- Stillbirth records begin in 1914 (becoming more plentiful around 1945).
When Vital Statistics does not have a record of the event for which you are searching and you have documents to support its existence, you may want to register a delayed registration with the Vital Statistics office. Please contact Vital Statistics for more information about delayed registrations and the different types of documents/evidence required to complete this process.
Eligibility: Who Can Apply?
Anyone may apply for a search of a record once enough time has passed for it to become public:
- Birth: 120 years after the date of birth.
- Marriage: 75 years after the date of marriage.
- Death: 50 years after the date of death.
- Stillbirth: 75 years after the date of stillbirth.
Until a record is old enough to be public, it is protected, and the person applying must prove they are eligible to receive it.