Apply for information from the historical Standesamt (registry office) records on civil status cases registered in Berlin

Personenstandsunterlagen (civil status records) are birth, marriage and death registers kept by the Berlin Standesämter (registry offices). Once the legally established retention periods have expired, these records are transferred to the Landesarchiv Berlin (Berlin State Archive). Civil status records are needed for a variety of purposes, for example for estate and property matters, naturalisations, private family history research, and other official or personal purposes. The Landesarchiv Berlin does not issue certificates (Urkunden). You can apply for information from the archive or for a register extract. Extracts from the civil status registers have the same content as civil status certificates and, in certified form, are recognised by offices and authorities. Process 1. Submit a request for information/an extract from the archived civil status registers of the Berlin registry offices. You can do this online or in person at the Landesarchiv Berlin (only by prior appointment). 2. Staff members search using the information you provided. 3. If the search is successful, you will receive: • Register copies (scans or paper printouts) or written information from the birth, marriage and death registers of the Berlin registry offices (certified on request, too), and an invoice by post. • Simple information and uncertified copies, usually by email. If no documents are found, you will receive notification to that effect by email.