Nova Scotia Civil Registration

Nova Scotia and Canada Archives

 * Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics
 * Township Records at the Nova Scotia Archives
 * 1841-1968 Acts of Divorce, 1841-1968

FamilySearch

 * 1711-1909, index and images.
 * 1727-1884, index.
 * 1763-1957, index and images.
 * 1837-1904, index and images.


 * 1763-1871 Nova Scotia marriage bonds, 1763-1871, images
 * 1864-1877, index and images.
 * 1864-1918, index and images.
 * 1864-1877, index and images.
 * 1890-1955, index and images.
 * 1907-1932, index and images.
 * 1956-1957, index and images.

Ancestry.com($)
Records at Ancestry.com may be used free-of-charge at a FamilySearch Center near you.
 * 1757-1946 Acadia, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1757-1946, index & images ($)
 * 1763-1942 Nova Scotia, Canada, Marriages, 1763-1942, index ($)
 * 1864-1877, 1890-1965 Nova Scotia, Canada, Deaths, 1864-1877, 1890-1965, index ($)
 * 1840-1917 Nova Scotia, Canada, Births, 1840-1917, index ($)

My Heritage ($)

 * 1763-1864, 1864-1942 Canada, Nova Scotia, Marriage Bonds 1763-1864 & Marriage Registrations, 1864-1942 at My Heritage, index ($)
 * 1890-1967 Canada, Nova Scotia, Death Index, 1890-1967 at My Heritage, index ($)
 * 1908-1917 Canada, Nova Scotia, Birth Index, 1908-1917 at My Heritage, free index ($)

Nova Scotia Vital Statistics

 * Civil registration of vital statistics began in Nova Scotia in 1763 with the introduction of procedures for obtaining a marriage licence; the procedure was optional and the surviving records are incomplete.
 * Formalized registration of births, deaths and marriages began in 1864 and continued to 1877, at which time record-keeping lapsed for births and deaths, but continued for marriages. Compliance was not universal during this period and there are gaps in the surviving records.
 * Since 1 October 1908, birth, death and marriage registrations have been collected and maintained continuously.
 * A 'delayed' registration procedure was also available at the Vital Statistics Office for many years after 1908, to accommodate individuals born in the province before 1908 who wanted their births officially recorded, or who required proof-of-birth in later life when applying for passports, pensions and similar evidence records. The surviving registrations include individuals born in Nova Scotia as early as 1836, but by their very nature (optional, voluntary registration) the records are incomplete.

Adoption
Nova Scotia has an Adoption Disclosure Program.
 * Adoption Records in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Archives
Records are transferred from the Vital Statistics branch of Service Nova Scotia to the Nova Scotia Archives on the following schedule: Births: 100 years after the end of the year in which the birth was registered Marriages: 75 years after the end of the year in which the marriage was registered Deaths: 50 years after the end of the year in which the death was registered

They are then digitized full information and one million digitized birth, marriage and death records are available online at Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics

Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics
For records more recent than the above dates, certificates can be requested from Vital Statistics branch of Service Nova Scotia. Restrictions apply. For instructions, restriction information, and applications are found on their website.

Township Books
Births, marriages, and deaths are recorded in township books beginning in about 1760, when settlers from New England came to Nova Scotia. The township books were discontinued beginning about 1860. Townships were never established on Cape Breton Island, and the township books covered only part of the rest of the province. Marriages recorded in the books may be as early as 1702 and as late as 1920. The database at the Nova Scotia Archives offers concise information about the contents of 35 township books or record collections.
 * Township Records at the Nova Scotia Archives

Why might it be better to look for the death record of an ancestor first?

 * Your ancestor's death is more recent than his birth or marriage. It is usually best to work from recent events backward, from the known to the unknown.
 * The death record usually tells you where your ancestor last lived. Then you can look for other records for that place.
 * The death record may lead you to other documents created in connection with the death, such as the burial and probate of your ancestor. Those records may give new family information.
 * Death records may contain birth, marriage, and burial information as well as death information.
 * Death records exist for many persons born before birth and marriage records began. Death records may contain birth and marriage information not available anywhere else.

What information can I find in vital records?
This table tells you the genealogical information contained in birth, marriage, and death records.

For Further Reading

 * Nova Scotia Birth, Marriage, and Death Records