Alberta Vital Records - International Institute

Civil Registration in the Prairie Provinces
Genealogists recognize the value of civil registration records as primary sources of information. Civil registration began in 1897 in the prairie provinces (Northwest Territories) with the Vital Statistics Ordinance, but sporadic recording of births, marriages and deaths was undertaken as early as 1870. With the formation of the province in 1905, registration was pursued with more vigilance, however, for the first decade or so, records are often incomplete. Although the obligation was made easier to fulfill by having the secretary-treasurer of each school district record the births, marriages and deaths within their district (1919-1942), some people were not favourably inclined to have government meddle in their lives. Non-English speaking immigrant settlers often did not realize their obligations and, in other cases, travel distances made registration inconvenient. And, of course, there was always the odd secretary-treasurer who was not always meticulous in his recording.

In 1905 certificates issued by the Northwest Territories government were turned over to the Provincial Archives of Alberta. They have been indexed and the Edmonton Branch, Alberta Genealogical Society, has published that index: Alberta: Index to Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths 1870 to 1905.

Civil Registers at the Provincial Archives of Alberta
Many early district civil registers are also at the Provincial Archives of Alberta. A name index for birth, marriage and death registers (1886-1982) is arranged chronologically, then alphabetically. District Registrar’s registers for birth, marriage and death (1895-1987) are arranged alphabetically by place. As these records fall under the same regulations as all vital statistics, clients must read and sign a research agreement form stipulating that the information is for research purposes only. The registers cannot be photocopied, however, a transcript can be obtained for a small fee.

Registry Offices
Since the formation of private registry offices in Alberta in 1994, obtaining official copies of certificates through the government department can only be done by non-Albertans. It is necessary to make the request on an ‘official’ form, available from:

Alberta Registries Vital Statistics P.O. Box 2023 Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4W7 Telephone: (780) 427-7013 Email: vs@gov.ab.ca

Residents of Alberta must obtain certificates from 1906 through private registry offices in their community. Check the local yellow pages under License &amp; Registry Service for locations. Costs will vary.

Registration of Birth

Used with permission of the family.



Wills and Estates
There is no central registry for wills in Alberta; wills are kept at the Court House in the judicial district where probate was granted. The information held is Grants of Probate, Letters of Administration, and Wills. To determine in which judicial district an ancestor died, write to:


 * Succession Duties Department Public Trustees’ Office 10365 - 97 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3Z8 Telephone: (780) 427-2744 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:15 am-12:00 pm, 1:00 pm-4:30 pm There is a search fee.

For Wills Probated in Edmonton

 * The Clerk of the Surrogate Court  Main Floor, Law Courts Building 1A Sir Winston Churchill Square Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0R2 Telephone: (780) 422-2434 Hours: Monday to Friday 8:15 am-4:30 pm

For Wills Probated in Calgary

 * Calgary Court Centre  601 - 5th Street South West Calgary, Alberta T2P 5P7

Other Judicials Districts
Other Judicials Districts and their Court Houses in the province are:


 * Drumheller Court House 511 - 3rd Avenue West P.O. Box 759 Drumheller, Alberta T0J OYO


 * Fort McMurray Court House 9700 Franklin Avenue Fort McMurray, Alberta T9H 4W3


 * Grande Prairie Court House  10260 - 99 Street Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 2H4


 * Lethbridge Court House  320 - 4th Street South Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 1Z8


 * Medicine Hat Law Courts  460 First Street South East Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 0A8


 * Peace River Court House 9905 - 97 Avenue Bag 900-34 Peace River, Alberta T8S 1T4


 * Red Deer Court House  4909 48th Avenue Red Deer, Alberta T4N 3T5


 * St. Paul Court House  4704 - 50 Street P.O. Box 1900 St. Paul, Alberta T0A 3A0


 * Wetaskiwin Law Courts  4605 - 51 Street Wetaskiwin, Alberta T9A 1K7

The cost of obtaining copies of wills are the costs of copying. The Provincial Archives of Alberta holds surrogate case files. (Accession Number 95.399)


 * Edmonton (1898-1969)
 * Athabasca (1909-1969)
 * Northwest Territories (1922-1969)
 * Files include probates, affidavits, oaths of Executers, copies of wills, applications for Letters of Administration