Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Certificates

A copy of the record must be obtained from the Vital Statistics Office of the appropriate locality. If the birth, marriage or death occurred in a village or other place in which no vital statistics office is maintained, the record can be obtained from the Communal Vital Statistics Office (lokalny Urzad Stanu Cywilnego) established for the community. Copies of the records can also be obtained from the district court having jurisdiction over the area, as duplicate copies of vital statistic records must be maintained as a part of such courts.

Polish legislation provides for the issuance of the three types of certificates pertaining to birth, marriage and death:

a complete and true copy (odpis zupelny),

an abbreviated copy (odpis skrocony), and

an excerpt from the original records (wyciag).

The complete and true copy is generally preferable because of the meager data furnished in the abbreviated copy and excerpts.

A copy of a divorce decree may be obtained from the District Court where the decree was rendered.