Fact Sheet 4

Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes - getting started

Birth, Death and Marriage or BDM records are a great way to start tracing your family history. They can provide you with information to make it easier for you to search for your family history (or for the Family History Unit to undertake a search on your behalf). For example you can find out the maiden names of the females in your family, a listing of occupation may also be found on a BDM certificate opening up the possibility of searching union or employment records. For what information you will find on all types of certificates see Fact Sheet 5.

To conduct a search of the BDM indexes first think of all the names you know, when were your family members born, married or died and where they were from. These facts are great starting points for searching the BDM indexes and will add to the information that you already know about your family.

Where to find Birth, Death & Marriage indexes:

Many libraries and family history societies have copies of BDM indexes on microfiche and/or on CD-ROM and some are available via the Internet. Anyone can use these indexes and the library or family history society staff will be able to help you with your search. If you can’t get access to BDM indexes, you can contact the Unit on 1800 730 129 and we will be able to do a family history search on your behalf (a waiting period will apply).

BDM indexes are searchable on the Internet for:

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What dates are Births Deaths & Marriage indexes available for?

Births Deaths & Marriage indexes are publicly available for the following periods:  

The AIATSIS Family History Unit holds copies of all of these indexes, in CD, microform and/or print versions.

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Example of a baptism certificate

 - Courtesy NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages

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How to obtain Birth, Death and Marriage certificates 

• Each State and Territory in Australia has a Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages who are responsible for the recording of these vital events, see the relevant Fact Sheet for their contact details (Fact Sheets 7-14).
• You can apply for your own Birth or Marriage certificates but to access the certificates of your parents you may need their permission if they are still alive.
• You can apply for your own Grandparents and Great-Grandparents certificates, but may need to identify yourself as their descendant.
• Certificates vary in price according to the State or Territory concerned.

Transcription agencies                         

If your family is mentioned in the NSW or SA indexes, you may prefer to obtain the certificate from a transcription agency (which will be cheaper and usually quicker). Transcriptions provide the same information as laid out on a certificate but they can not be used for legal purposes. Four transcription agencies are:

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Updated: January 2008