Philippines, Manila, Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
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Collection Time Period
Civil registration marriage records cover 1900 to 1991. Civil registration death records cover 1899 to 1994.

Record Description
Marriage and Death records are in English for the most part. A few of the earlier marriage records are in Spanish. Spanish is also used in sections of later records.

Record Content
Most marriage records and marriage certificates (also called marriage contracts) contain the following:


 * Husband’s name
 * Wife’s name
 * Date and place of the marriage
 * Names of the husband’s parents
 * Names of the wife’s parents
 * Names of the witnesses
 * Names of the persons who gave consent
 * Name of the person who solemnized the marriage
 * Beginning in 1945, birthplace of the husband and wife
 * Date of the marriage license
 * Date of the certificate (marriage contract)

Most death records contain the following:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Name of the surviving spouse
 * Date and place of death
 * The date and place of burial (cremation or removal)
 * Name of the informant
 * Name of the attending physician
 * Name of the undertaker
 * On death certificates after 1958, names of the father and mother
 * On death certificates after 1958, the birth date and birthplace of the deceased
 * Date of the certificate or the date the certificate was filed by the local civil registrar
 * Date of burial or transit permit

How to Use the Record
These registrations are the best source for locating the date and place of an ancestor’s marriage or death. The marriage records may also include information about the ancestor’s parents. You can use this information to help extend the lineage. Use place information to search for other records with genealogical content.

Record History
In 1901, the Philippines passed a law that established local civil registry offices. These offices were to record the events of birth, marriage, and death. This collection contains marriage records and death records from the city of Manila in the Philippines. In 1945, changes in the law required more information to be recorded. The records are in English and Spanish.

Why This Collection Was Created
The recording of birth, marriage or death provides important information in a person's life, which become necessary for legal authorities and personal purposes.

Record Reliability
The recording of civil events in a person's life, such as birth, marriage and death, require valid evidence, therefore making these records very reliable.

Related Web Sites
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.

Related Wiki Articles
Philippines Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Sources of information for This Collection
“Philippines, Manila Civil Registration,” database, FamilySearch; from Manila (Philippines). Civil Registrar. "Marriage contracts 1900-1991." Civil Registry Office, City Hall of Manila, Philippines. FHL microfilm, 1449 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. “Philippines, Manila Civil Registration,” database, FamilySearch; from Manila (Philippines). Civil Registrar. "Death certificates 1899-1994." Civil Registry Office, City Hall of Manila, Philippines. FHL microfilm, 1228 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
It is recommended that you cite the sources of information as you search genealogical records. Citing sources will allow you to avoid duplicate searches later and share your sources with other researchers. A citation with specific details about the source document should allow yourself or others to easily find the source document at a later time. You should cite all sources searched, whether new information is found, to avoid duplicating searches without findings.

Suggested Format:

A suggested format for citations created to document information found in FamilySearch Record Search is: Collection title, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: date accessed or downloaded), items of interest.

Items of Interest Include:


 * Name of the person mentioned in the document
 * File, folder or jacket number
 * Locality
 * Record type
 * Page number
 * Line number
 * Date of entry
 * Digital identification number
 * Film number

You are Invited to Add Source Citations for a Record in This Collection: Please add sample citations to this article following the format guidelines listed above.

Examples of Source Citations of a Record in This Collection

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71


 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023.