Amapá, Brazil Genealogy

Guide to State of Amapa family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.



History

 * The area of Amapá was disputed over from the 16th century until the early 20th century.
 * In the colonial period the region was called Portuguese Guiana and was part of Portugal's State of Brazil. The colony of Portuguese Guinea was created in 1879.
 * While originally a part of Brazil, the area was overrun by the French in the 18th century, until the 20th century. This international dispute continued until 1900.
 * Finally in 1900, the Commision of Geneva ceded the area as a territory of Brazil, which was originally incorporated into the State of Para until 1943 when Amapá became a federal territory. Amapá did not gain statehood until October 5, 1988.

1. Online Digital Records for Civil Registration
For many localities, digital copies of civil registration can be searched online. Currently, there are no online, digitized records for Amapá.

2. Microfilm Copies of Civil Registration Records in the FamilySearch Catalog
If the locality and time period you need are not included in the online records, the next step is would be to find them in the microfilm collection of the Family History Library. Currently, the microfilms are being digitized, and plans are to complete that project by 2020. Check back occasionally to see if your records have become available. In the meantime, some of them might be available at a Family History Center near you.

3. Writing for Civil Registration Certificates
If the records are not online, and you do not have ready access to the microfilms, civil registration records in Brazil can be obtained by writing to the local civil registry in the municipality. Civil officials will generally answer correspondence in Portuguese. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to state archives. 'This method is not always reliable. Officials might or might not respond.'


 * List of municipalities in Amapá.

Write a brief request in Portuguese to the proper office using this address as guide replacing the information in parentheses:


 * Cartório de Registro Civil
 * (postal code), (city), Amapá
 * BRASIL


 * Find the Brazilian postal code here.

Send the following:


 * Money for the search fee, usually $10.00, and an international reply coupon (IRC)
 * Full name and the sex of the ancestor sought
 * Names of the ancestor’s parents, if known
 * Approximate date and place of the event
 * Your relationship to the ancestor
 * Reason for the request (family history, medical, and so on)
 * Request for a photocopy of the complete original record

'''Write your request in Portuguese whenever possible. For writing your letter in Portuguese, use the translated questions and phrases in this Portuguese Letter-writing Guide.'''

Resources
Those interested in obtaining records from Amapá can contact The State of Amapá Cultural Foundation:

Fundação de Estado da Cultura do Amapá - FUNDECAP Av. Ivaldo Veras s/nº - Jardim Marcozero - Macapá - AP - CEP. 68903-032 Tel: (0**96) 3212-2033