GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Puerto Rico Marriages

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find marriage information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the birth section of the Puerto Rico Guided Research page.

Additional Databases and Online Resources

 * 1885-2001:  Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations  at Ancestry ($)

Online Images (Browsable Only)
Some collections have not been indexed, but are available to browse image by image.

Additional Records with Marriage Information
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for marriage events may not have been created at the time of the marriage. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Tips for finding marriages
Successfully finding marriage records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Puerto Rican Surnames. Puerto Ricans used the last names of both parents as the surname. Try using one surname, then the other surname, or both surnames together.
 * Spouse name. Search by given name, and maiden name (see Puerto Rican Surnames above).
 * Add information. Add marital status, parents' names, and residence if known.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Search Municipality. Search using the municipality only without the country name.

Known Record Gaps
Records Start
 * Civil registration records started in 1885. Records in some municipalities exist prior to 1885.
 * Catholic church records began in some parishes as early as 1645.

Records Destroyed
 * Below is a list of missing parish records.
 * [[Media:Missing Puerto Rico Church Records.pdf|Missing Puerto Rico Church Records]]

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