Brazil, Alagoas, Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
These records are comprised of baptism, marriage, and death records created by various Catholic parishes and dioceses in the state of Piauí. Some of these records have been indexed and are searchable as part of this collection. Additional indexed records will be published as they become available.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Portugese. For help reading them see:
 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Brazil Language and Languages

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Baptism
 * Date of baptism
 * Place of baptism
 * Name
 * Birthdate
 * Place of birth
 * Legitimacy
 * Parents' names
 * Godparents' names

Marriage
 * Birthdates of bride and groom
 * Names of bride and groom
 * Date of marriage
 * Place of marriage
 * Groom's place of birth
 * Groom's age, baptism date, and residence
 * Groom's parents' names
 * Bride’s place of birth
 * Bride's age, baptism date, and residence
 * Bride's parents' names
 * Witnesses' names

Burial
 * Date, place, and time of death
 * Name and age of deceased
 * Deceased's marital status/name of spouse
 * Deceased's origin and residence
 * Legitimacy
 * Cause of death
 * Names of deceased's parents
 * Residence of parents
 * Names of witnesses
 * Burial place

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Check the image the index was taken from to see if there is additional information
 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference
 * Use the information to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each spouse to find a couple's birth records and parents' names
 * Compile the marriage entries for every person who has the same surname as the bride or groom; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Alagoas, Brazil.
 * Brazil Guided Research
 * Brazil Record Finder
 * Brazil Research Tips and Strategies

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Brazil Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Brazil Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Brazil Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.