Obtaining Vital Records
Tracing Your Ancestors Through Official Documents
Are you looking for birth, marriage, or death records of your ancestors who lived in Poland? I’m here to help.
Vital records confirm important dates and places in your family’s history. They are also key to tracing earlier generations, as they often include details about parents, birthplaces, maiden names, and more. Archival documents can also provide information about your ancestors’ residences, occupations, and social status. These details can serve as valuable clues for the next steps in your family history research, helping to create a fuller picture of past generations.
You can request a birth certificate yourself from the State Archives or the Civil Registry Office (USC) in Poland. Civil Registry Offices hold records from the last 100 years. Older records, if preserved, can be found in State Archives. In some cases, they may only be available in Church Archives, Parish Archives or Jewish institutions.
How to Obtain Civil and Archival Records
If you don’t have the time to handle the paperwork or are unsure where to request your ancestors’ records, or don’t speak Polish, I would be happy to assist you.
Obtaining a basic copy of a birth record requires fewer formalities. However, getting an officially certified copy from an Archive or Civil Registry Office takes more effort, involves additional formalities, and requires more time. Let me know what you need!
