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

This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find birth 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 ($)

Additional Records with Birth 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 birth events may not have been created at the time of the birth. 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.

Virtual Genealogy Consultations
Schedule a free online consultation with a research specialist:

Ask the Community
Select a community research group where you can ask questions and receive free genealogy help.

Tips for finding births
Successfully finding birth 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.
 * Search given name. Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth.
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names 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]]