Russian Empire Civil Registration

Civil Registration Records
Beginning in 1722, records of birth, marriage, and death were performed by churches of various confessions, synagogues, or mosques. However, at the time of the Russian Revolution, the responsibility of recording vital events shifted from the church to the state. Thus, during the time of the Russian Empire, registration of birth, marriage, and death, will be known as metrical records.

On December 18, 1917 the Council of People's Commissars decreed that citizens must register births, marriages, and deaths at the city, at a city, district or volost civil registration office. At that time, many metrical books kept by churches and other religious organizations were sent to their respective civil registration offices. These offices are called Органы записи актов гражданского состояния (Bodies of Registration of Acts of Civil Status). They are also commonly referred to using the abbreviation ЗАГС, or ZAGS. In some cases, early civil registration records from the 1920s have been transferred to regional (oblast) archives, but otherwise, civil registration records are often still held at the ZAGS office. Use the MXKR site to help you locate civil registration offices in Russia and contact the ZAGS office directly for information about records. Keep in mind that ZAGS offices can often be difficult to work with, and you will likely need to provide proof of relationship to the person whose record you are seeking.