Bahamas Civil Registration

Online Collections

 * 1850-1959 Bahamas Civil Registration, 1850-1959, index and images at FamilySearch (free)
 * 1850-1891 Bahamas Births, 1850-1891, index at FamilySearch (free)
 * 1850-1891 Bahamas, Select Births, 1850-1891, index at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1850-1891 Bahamas Birth Index 1850-1959 ($) at Findmypast, index ($)
 * 1850-1958 Bahamas Death Index 1850-1958 at Findmypast — index ($)
 * 1868-1959 Bahamas Marriage Index 1868-1959 at Findmypast — index ($)

Offices to Contact
Registrar General’s Department Cor. of Shirley and Charlotte Street P.O. Box N 532 Nassau New Providence The Bahamas Telephone: (242) 397-9105
 * (242) 397-8957
 * (242) 397-9110

Fax: (242) 322-5553 Email: [mailto:Regbirth@bahamas.gov.bs Regbirth@bahamas.gov.bs] Email: [mailto:registrargeneral@bahamas.gov.bs registrargeneral@bahamas.gov.bs]

For additional information on obtaining vital records, see: Births : Birth Certificate

Adoptions : Adoption Certificate

Marriages : Marriage Certificate

Deaths : Death Certificate

Non-Residents : Services for Non-Residents

Historical Background
Adoptions are completed at the Supreme Court. The information is then sent to the Registrar General’s Department where the adoption is recorded in the Adoption Book.

Coverage and Compliance
Civil registration in the Bahamas became compulsory in 1931. Voluntary registration began as early as 1802.

Information Recorded in the Records
The information in these records usually include the following:

Birth
 * Child’s name
 * Birth date
 * Child's gender and race
 * Birth place
 * Parents' names
 * Father’s title or occupation

Marriage
 * Marriage date
 * Marriage place
 * Full names of bride and groom
 * Ages of bride and groom
 * Civil status, age and residence of bride and groom
 * Occupation
 * Name of fathers of bride and groom
 * Witnesses

Death
 * Name of deceased
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Age, gender and race of deceased
 * Occupation of deceased
 * Cause of death