Colombia Civil Registration

FamilySearch Online Collections

 * 1630-1950 - Colombia baptisms, 1630-1950
 * 1750-1960 - Colombia marriages, 1750-1960
 * 1770-1930 - Colombia deaths, 1770-1930
 * 1576-2018 - Colombia, Catholic Church Records, 1576-2018

How to Find the Records
Obtaining copies of civil registration can be difficult from the National Registry. But many notarial records from the 19th century are microfilmed and are available online through FamilySearch or through microfilm and often these are indexed.

FamilySearch microfilms available. An index for the First, Second, Third and Fourth Notaries of Bogata, including records from neighboring localities and all of Colombia is:


 * Indice general de notaría y registro civil, 1553-1935

Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:


 * Colombia Deaths (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Colombia Marriages (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Once you have identified the name and jurisdiction of the town of your ancestors you will want to check the FamilySearch Catalog and FamilySearch Record Collections for records about your ancestors. For more information about how to search the FamilySearch catalog you will want to read Using the FamilySearch Catalog.

To search the catalog, as well as indexed records and images available online from FamilySearch, you will need to visit FamilySearch.org. To find the record collections for Colombia, click on South America and choose Colombia from the list. Finally, click on Start researching in Colombia.

For additional information about finding records, see Colombia Finding Records.

Historical Background
Civil Registration began in Colombia in 1865 but wasn't fully adopted everywhere in the country till 1888. Till 1926, the civil registration records were included as part of the notarial records. Now the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil (the National Registry of Civil Status) maintains the civil registration; their website is http://www.registraduria.gov.co/.

Coverage and Compliance
Civil registration began in Colombia in 1865, but it was not done in the entire country until 1888. Before 1926, civil registration was included in the notary protocol records. Now the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil (National Registry of Civil Status) keeps civil registration records. Its website is Civil Registration.

For more information about the history of Civil Registration in Colombia, go to Registro Civil de Nacimiento.

The process to obtain a copy of a record from the Registraduría Nacional can be difficult. However many of the notarial records of the 19th century are on FamilySearch films, and many of these registers have indexes.

1800-1888
Extractos de noticias de nacimiento, matrimonio y defuncion tomado de los protocolos del notario #2 de Bogota


 * Nacimientos. Nombres y apellidos de niños y padres; fecha de nacimiento o bautismo; a veces nombres y apellidos de abuelos


 * Matrimonios. Nombres y apellidos de los contrayentes; fecha de matrimonio; lugares de residencia; a veces nombres y apellidos de padres


 * Defunciones. Nombres y apellidos del fifunto, y su esposo(s) o padres; fecha de defuncion o entierro; lugar

1865-1887
NOTA Entre 1865-1887, el notario # 2 de Bogotá también guardó libros separados de nacimiento, matrimonio, y defunción de la capital y sus áreas contingentes. Estos registros consisten en:


 * Listas mensuales de bautismos, matrimonios y defunciones de varias parroquias
 * Copias certificadas de entradas individuales sin orden alguno

1936 al presente
El sistema en Colombia de registrar nacimientos, matrimonios, y defunciones desde 1936 se ha hecho en una de las maneras siguientes:


 * Donde habia notario publico en la municipalidad, el habia las inscripciones
 * Donde no habia notario publico la inscripcion se hacia por un oficial de Estadisticas
 * Por la oficina del alcalde