Vital Records - Quebec
Civil registration in Quebec did not begin until 1926 and initially only applied to births. Marriages were added in 1960, but the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations continued to be the only source of death records. Full civil registration in Quebec only began in 1994.
Prior to civil registration, each parish sent a copy of its baptism, marriage and death records to the prothonotarial district at the local Palais de Justice (courthouse). In effect, these records became civil records. All pre-1900 prothonotarial district records of births, marriages and deaths are held at 9 regional branches of the National Archives of Québec and are available to the public.
Contact the Archives for more information: (English or French - use the toggle in the upper right corner of the site)
All post-1900 birth, marriage and death records are held by the Directeur de l'état Civil in Québec City and Montreal. Access to these records is subject to eligibility and approval.
Remember to request a photocopy of the registration document as this carries the most information.
Online
A discussion about vital records in Quebec can be found at Global Genealogy
Fichier Origine from La Fédération Québécoise des Sociétés de Généalogie: Birth and baptism records for French and foreign migrants who came to Quebec between 1621 and 1865. (French)
Southwestern Quebec Genealogical Resources (Protestant) Searchable database for 19th century baptism, marriage & burial records of the protestant churches in Southwestern Quebec.
Notarial Records, found at Library and Archives Canada
Divorce records through Library and Archives Canada (index only)
The following book suggestions offer information about parish records in general. Numerous books can be found in the Family History Library that offer actual transcriptions of birth, marriage and death registrations for the various parishes.
Checklist of parish registers, 1986 Repertoire de registres paroissiaux, 1986. Birkett, Patricia rev. 4th ed. Ottawa: The Division 1987 GEN 016.929371 NAT 1987
A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Ile in 1847. Charbonneau, Andre and Doris Drolet. Ottawa: Parks Canada, 1997 GEN 929.3714 CHA
Microfilm and CD Rom
“Lower Canada Marriage Bonds 1779-1860.” An online index to this microfilm collection, searchable by name, can be found at Library and Archives Canada. The index includes both upper and lower Canada marriage bonds 1779-1858.
Obtain your microfilm number this way or use our Canadian Family History Resources: A Guide to the Materials held at the Cloverdale Library.
“Fabien Index 1657-1974.”Jacques Henri Fabien, deceased in 1974, compiled a significant card catalogue of births, marriages and deaths that occurred in Ontario, Quebec and parts of PEI. Now available online at Canadiana Heritage
“Loiselle Marriage Index 1642-1963.” Covers mainly the Province of Quebec, indexing over one million records in 520 parishes. This resource is an old-style card catalogue that was microfilmed. Alphabetical order makes it very easy to use.