Slovenia Civil Registration

Introduction
Civil registration is the registration of births, marriages, and deaths by civil authorities. It can be used to uniquely identify individuals and connect families.

It began in 1868 for the Istrian Peninsula (western edge of Slovenia), in 1895 for Prekmurje (eastern edge of Slovenia), and in 1924-1943 for the Julian region of Carniola (northwestern Slovenia). Civil registration of deaths was instituted for part of Slovenia by the Germans during World War II. It was instituted for all of Slovenia after WWII. A few civil registers exist from the period of the French occupation, 1812-1814. Civil registration records exist for 1812-1814 and 1868-present.

Birth records may list: name; date of birth (including time of day); parents; residence, occupation, and religious preference of parents; and informant. Marriage records may list: date of marriage, names of bride and groom, residences, parents, and witnesses. Death records may list: date of death, name, age, cause of death, and place of burial.

How to Access the Records
Civil records are held in provincial archives and civil registration offices. They may also possibly be found in archives outside of Slovenia located in Hungary, Austria and Italy. Some early civil registers are available for personal research in archives; later registration is available in civil registration offices for official purposes.