Vital Statistics
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Update Information
31 July 2006. Work on the Historical Vital Statistics Online Initiative, which is an extremely complex electronic undertaking, is progressing steadily. We are very pleased with the Web-based product that is being developed. At this stage, our best projection of a launch date for this new online resource is Autumn 2006. We cannot go live until legislative amendments are passed and we anticipate that this will happen in the Fall Session of the Nova Scotia Legislature. We'll keep you updated regarding any changes. Sorry for the delay!
Now available - two Death Registers for the City of Halifax, 1890-1908, containing 17,890 entries in a searchable database, linked to corresponding digitized pages in the registers. 18 August 2005
As of January 2006, marriage registrations for 1930 and death registrations for 1955 have been transferred to NSARM custody, in accordance with the Release Policy of the Vital Statistics Office.
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As of January 2006, the following Nova Scotia Vital Statistics records are held by
Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management
| Records | Date Coverage | Status |
| Births | 1864-1877 | Open [records incomplete] |
| Marriages | 1763-1864
1864-ca.1912
ca.1912-1930 | Open [records incomplete]
Open [early records incomplete]
Open [public access under development] |
| Deaths | 1864-1877
1 October 1908-1955 | Open [records incomplete]
Open [public access under development] |
As of January 2006, the following Nova Scotia Vital Statistics records are held by
Vital Statistics, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Inquiries about these records and requests for copies of them must be made directly to
Vital Statistics, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
| Records | Date Coverage |
| Births | 1 October 1908-present |
| Marriages | 1931-present |
| Deaths | 1956-present |
Background
Civil registration of vital statistics began in Nova Scotia in 1763 with the introduction of procedures for obtaining a marriage licence; the procedure was optional and the records are incomplete. Formalized registration of births, deaths and marriages began in 1864 and continued to 1877, at which time record-keeping lapsed for births and deaths, but continued for marriages. Compliance was not universal during this period and there are gaps in the surviving records. Since 1 October 1908, birth, death and marriage registrations have been collected and maintained continuously.
Responsibility for collecting and maintaining active records lies with Vital Statistics, a branch of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Click here for information about this office.
Responsibility for preserving and providing access to inactive records lies with Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management. Click here for archival information about the Deputy Registrar General's Office (now called Vital Statistics) and its responsibilities.
Release Policy
A new records schedule developed by Vital Statistics for birth, marriage and death registrations has shortened their active life and accelerated their transfer to Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management for permanent archival preservation and public access.
According to this new schedule, records become inactive and are transferred annually to the Archives as follows:
- Births: 100 years after the end of the year in which the birth was registered
- Marriages: 75 years after the end of the year in which the marriage was registered
- Deaths: 50 years after the end of the year in which the death was registered
Upon arrival at NSARM, the records and indexes are microfilmed to archival quality standards to ensure their security and preservation. While microfilming is in progress the records are open, but not available for direct public access and use. Instead, NSARM offers a fee-based search-and-copy service, provided by staff to meet the information needs of researchers and the general public. Please review our Order Information and Fee Schedule for further details.
Update information will be provided regularly as NSARM moves towards
full public access to post-1908 Vital Statistics
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