Required Information
What Searches Are Invalid?
Tips for Searching Vital Records
Search for Children of the Same Parents
Narrow Your Search
Return to Vital Records Index

Required Information

You must enter at least:

• An individual's last name, (unless you search for children of the same parents), and country.

OR

• A individual's first name only, (unless you search for children of the same parents), and country.

OR

• Batch number and country, or film number and country.

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What Searches Are Invalid?

FamilySearch will not search for:

• Middle names. FamilySearch will ignore middle names unless you check the Use exact spelling box. When you check Use exact spelling, the search will look for the individual's first, middle, and last name exactly as you listed it. (If you check Use exact spelling, you must provide a country.)

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Tips for Searching Vital Records

• You may search for any combination of first and last names for the individual, parents, and spouse.
• You can search using the batch number to find the original record. The batch number identifies all the records that were processed at one time from a specific source such as a parish register or a county marriage book. You must also select a country to search by batch number.
• You may search by film number. This number is the Family History Library call number for the microfilm copy of the source of the information. You can order a copy of the microfilm at a local Family History Center. You must also select a country to search by film number.
• You can search by batch number and film number. You must also select a country.
• You may search for a first or last name, and country. Up to 200 results will be displayed on a page. Click Next to look at the other results.
• For common surnames, fill in additional fields to improve your search results. You will get better results if you enter an individual’s first name and last name.
• First and last names are standardized so that spelling variations are included in the results.

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Search for Children of the Same Parents

To search for children of the same parents, enter:

• The country.
• The father’s first and last name.
• The mother’s first name (the mother’s last name is optional).

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Narrow Your Search

You may now use the following to make your search more specific:

• Event 
• Year range (If you select a year range, you must provide a year in the Year box.)
• Year
• Use exact spelling (If you check Use exact spelling, you must provide a country.)
• Batch number and country
• Film number and country
• Batch and film number and country

If you choose birth or christening as the event, you must also enter one of the following options:

• First name, or last name, and country
• First name, or last name, father’s first name, and country
• First name, or last name, father’s last name, and country
• First name, or last name, father’s first and last name, and country
• First name, or last name, mother’s first name, and  country
• First name, or last name, mother’s last name, and country
• First name, or last name, mother’s first and last name, and country

If you choose marriage as the event, you must also enter one of the following options:

• First name, or last name, and country
• First name, or last name, spouse’s first name, and country
• First name, or last name, spouse’s last name, and country
• First name, or last name, spouse’s first and last name, and country

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Return to Vital Records Index