Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration and Miscellaneous Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Brazil Rio de Janeiro

What is in the Collection?
This collection includes wills, land records, election records, naturalizations, and other records from 1820-1958 for various cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This collection also includes any of the above records as well as some birth, marriage, and death records that had been notarized by the state of Rio de Janeiro.

This collection varies from the Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records) collection in that this collection of records come from the notary offices of Rio de Janeiro; whereas the records of “Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration” come from the civil registration offices of Rio de Janeiro.

A record/document that has been notarized is one where an appointed public officer certified that the information contained within the document is authentic and true.

The records are in Portuguese; see the "For Help Reading these Records" section for access to translation helps.

Additional images will be published as they become available.

Collection Contents
The information in each record varies by year.

Probate Records
Wills may include the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Deceased’s residence
 * Date the will was released and read
 * Names of deceased’s relatives to whom he gave inheritance
 * Relationship of each individual named to the deceased
 * Name of executor

Land and Residence Records
Land Records may include:


 * Name of land owner
 * Address/location of owner/land
 * Name of witness (may be a relative, close friend, or spouse)

Election records may include:


 * Name of voter
 * Address of voter
 * Civil status
 * Age
 * Marital status
 * Occupation
 * Birth date and/or place

Citizenship Records
Naturalization records may include:


 * Name of immigrant
 * Date and place of birth
 * Date and place of application
 * Marital status/spouse’s name
 * Address
 * Number of years in Brazil
 * Occupation and industry
 * Names of witnesses
 * Civil/citizen status in country of origin
 * Parents’ names
 * Date of arrival to Brazil
 * Name of ship, port of entry, and/or port of departure
 * Previous criminal activity (if any)
 * Previous political activity (if any)
 * Number of children
 * Where children were born

Civil Registration
Go to this article to learn what information can be learned from birth, marriage, and death records from Rio de Janeiro, and to see some sample images: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Civil Registration (FamilySearch Historical Records)

How Do I Search the Collection?
Some record sets have indexes; these indexes were created at the end of the year. Copy errors could have been made in the index, so you want to find the actual record to verify the information is correct. Using the index is a helpful way to find the actual record.

When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships.

See the sections below for tips and uses for searching and finding the record of your ancestor in this collection and using the information in the record.

If you are unable to find a record for your ancestor in this collection, see the corresponding section below.

To search by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the 'Município' (Municipality) category ⇒ Select the 'Cartório' (Notary Office) category ⇒ Select the 'Tipo de registro e anos' (Record Type and Years) category which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

For Help Reading these Records
These records are in Portuguese. For help reading the records see the following guides:


 * Portuguese Genealogical Word List
 * Brazil Language and Languages


 * Using the date a will was released, look backward in time for the death record.
 * Use the information in naturalization records to find passenger lists and other records from your ancestor’s homeland.
 * Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth to find the family in census records Brazil Census.
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
 * The name of a marriage officiator is a clue to their religion or area of residence in the county. However, ministers may have reported marriages performed in other counties.
 * 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.
 * Use the marital status to identify previous marriages.
 * Witnesses often were relatives of the parents.

To learn more about using the information in civil records, view this lesson for free: Brazil Beginning Research Series Lesson 2: Civil Registration Records – English

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * For death records, the information in records is usually reliable, but depends upon the knowledge of the informant.
 * For marriage and death records, name changes, shortened names, or nicknames may have been used by your ancestors, so pay attention to other relationships (parents, spouse, siblings, children, etc.) that can confirm whether you have the right person/record.
 * Naturalization records are good for tracing your ancestors origins, i.e., where they moved from and when.
 * Election and land records are used to trace your ancestors' migration, i.e., where they lived throughout their life, their economic situation, and their civil status.
 * Continue to search the marriage records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the bride and groom who may have married in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * Continue to search the indexes and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have lived in the same area or a nearby area.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation:

Image Citation: