Genealogy

Genealogy Copies

Information from records of birth, death and marriage may be provided for genealogical research purposes subject to the provisions of Section 35.5 of the Health Commissioner’s Rules and Regulations.  The information must be provided in the form of an uncertified copy or an uncertified transcript. Each uncertified copy of uncertified transcript must be stamped “FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH ONLY”.  If the record is not on file, an uncertified statement that the search disclosed no record is provided to the applicant.

Record searches, copy retrievals and reproduction may be conducted by the local Registrar, the Deputy Registrar or an authorized employee of the Registrar. No other persons such as a member of the public, historians, genealogists, employees of other municipal departments, etc, may search, copy or in any other way handle vital records indexes or records.  This prohibition includes all indexes and records, even those covered by the years authorized for genealogy research.

Information may be released for genealogy research subject to the following requirements:

Birth Certificates

  • No information shall be released from a sealed birth certificate.
  • The birth certificate has been on file for at least 75 years; and the person to whom the birth certificate relates must be deceased. Documentary evidence of death is required.  Documentary evidence may include a death certificate, obituary notice, photograph of the tombstone showing D.O.D., etc.

Death Certificates

  • The death certificate has been on file for at least 50 years

Marriage Certificates

  • The marriage certificate has been on file for at least 50 years; and both the bride and groom must be deceased.  Documentary evidence of death is required.  Documentary evidence may include a death certificate, obituary notice, photograph of the tombstone showing D.O.D., etc.

The time periods specified for birth, death and marriage records are waived if the applicant is a descendant.  A descendant is a person in the direct line of descent such as a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, etc.  Documentary evidence of direct descendency is required to waive the waiting period.  Documentary evidence may include birth certificates, marriage certificates, obituary notices, etc.

Niagara Falls
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