The Anatomy of BMD: What You Don’t Know About Vital Records

Where do you find vital records? That simple question doesn't always have an easy answer. In this presentation, we will explore online finding aids, indexes, vital record alternatives and digitized copies of vital records. This information is a must for anyone researching US ancestors.

Birth records are more than just dates — they hold the beginnings of your ancestors' stories, revealing a wealth of information beyond the moment they entered the world. Are you mining these records for all they're worth? Join Lisa Lisson for a deep dive into birth records, from discovering MyHeritage's extensive collection to uncovering the rich details within. This session will equip you with practical techniques for unearthing accurate birth dates and enhancing your family history research. Plus, we'll explore alternate sources that can shed even more light on your ancestors' beginnings. Walk away with a newfound ability to breathe life into your ancestors' stories.

Despite the fact that their marriages were not legally recognized before 1865, enslaved couples were uniting in "quasi-marital" relationships, and were cohabitating as husband and wife, as evidenced by many extant documents created during and after the end of America’s Civil War. In this presentation, we explore examples of documents that provide evidence of these relationships, and sources for finding them.

Not every ancestor left a death certificate, even after death registrations were required by the states. But don't give up hope! You may still be able to find an ancestor's death date using these 10 resources.

This session will discuss the civil marriage process in Italy and the marriage banns and files (allegati/processetti) created to supplement the marriage of couple. These documents have the potential to sometimes extend a family 3 generations pushing back into pre-civil registration era and right into Catholic Church records.

Delayed birth records for U.S. adults came into their own between the 1930s and 1950s. Follow with me the fascinating evolution of these records via nationwide newspaper coverage during that time. Explore examples that will make you want to look for your relatives' delayed birth records--and get some tips for how to find them.

This webinar was presented live during the 2022 Surname Society annual conference. Ian Hartas talk will cover some of the basic techniques in how to get the best out of local BMD sites and also cover a basic walk through on them to suit newcomers.

Civil (vital) registration began at different times in the Australian colonies and remains a state responsibility to the current day. The amount of information on the certificate varies among the states as does the cost and online availability.

Vital registration (death certificates) are just one of the record types that can be used. By looking at the range of documents that can give death information we can put our ancestor’s death and often their life into context.