Births, Deaths and Marriages – Privacy Laws per State and Territory

As part of our news, here are the restrictions on accessing information about Births, Deaths and Marriages in each state and territory of Australia. Our research relies on access to a number of Government Departments for information and this is a very important section. So if you are looking at your veterans record and no BDM appears, the restrictions are the reason. Each state and territory have different restrictions to these records.

Australian Capital Territory - Canberra

• Prior to 1911 the area now known as the 'Australian Capital Territory' (ACT) was administratively part of New South Wales (NSW). Between 1 January 1911 and 29 July 1938, it was officially known as the 'Federal Capital Territory'.
• For births in the Canberra region prior to 1918 and marriage and death records before 1930, use the indexes of NSW. Registrations of these events in the Canberra region may be recorded under the Districts of Queanbeyan or Yass.
• ACT Historic Marriage Index (PDF version) (1930-1941): includes marriage registration number, given names and surnames of both parties, and the date of marriage.
• ACT Historic Death Index (PDF version) (1930-1986)
Includes death registration number, given names and surname of the deceased, the date of death and, in some entries, the given names and surnames of the deceased's father and mother.

New South Wales – nsw.gov.au/BDM – Family History Search

• Birth/Baptisms – 1788-1925 (100 years)
• Marriages – 1788- 1975 (50 Years)
• Deaths – 1788 – 1995 (30 Years)

This will change annually but will always retain the Privacy duration: eg: (100 years for births, 50 years for Marriages and 30 years for Deaths).

Find my past World edition subscription is required to access Births (1788-1914), Marriages (1788-1945), Deaths (1788-1945)

Northern Territory - https://nt.gov.au/law/BDM

• You can access Findmypast (World Edition) through eResources. Select the Browse eResources tab and search for 'Findmypast'.

It includes records for:

• Northern Territory Baptisms and Confirmations
• Northern Territory Birth Index 1870-1918
• Northern Territory Marriage Index 1870-1913
• Northern Territory Marriages
• Northern Territory Deaths

Queensland - https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research

• The Queensland Government provides free, searchable, online indexes to the following historical records:
• Births 1829 - 100 years ago
• Deaths 1829 - 30 years ago
• Marriages 1829 - 75 years ago

Find my Past subscription has Qld deaths 1829-1964

South Australia – Genealogy SA - https://www.genealogysa.org.au/SAGHS

• Family history society, Genealogy SA  provides a free online database to access South Australian births 1837-1928, deaths 1842-1994 and marriages 1842-1948 indexes as well as church and other records. Additional content is available to subscribed members.

This includes:

• Birth Registration Certificates Index 1842-1928
• Death Registration Certificates Index 1842-1972
• Marriage Registration Certificates Index 1842-1937
• Newspaper Birth Notices Index 1839-2018
• Newspaper Death Notices Index from 1852
• Newspaper Marriage Notices Index 1852, 1859-2018
• Newspaper Divorce Notices Index 1879-1954
• South Australia Cemeteries Index from 1836

Find My Past subscriptions provide access to the following:

• South Australia Baptisms and Confirmations
• South Australia Births 1842-1928
• South Australia Stillbirths
• South Australian Births
• South Australia Marriages 1842-1937
• South Australian Marriages
• South Australia Deaths 1842-1972
• South Australia Remote Deaths 1851-1965
• South Australia Unregistered Deaths 1840-1970
• South Australia Newspaper Obituaries 1864-1916
• South Australian Deaths

Tasmania – https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/?

The Tasmanian Names Index on the Libraries Tasmania website provides indexes to BDM-related resources:

• Births (1803-1933). People born in Tasmania including some baptisms collected by the Registrar General (1900-1933 baptisms only)
• Marriages (1804-1899). People who married in Tasmania.
• Divorces (1861-1920). Petitions for divorce in the Tasmanian Supreme Court.
• Deaths (1803-1939). People who died in Tasmania including some burial records collected by the Registrar General (1900-1933 burials only).

Find my Past subscription give access to the following;

• Tasmania Births 1803-1933
• Tasmania Marriages 1803-1899
• Tasmania Deaths 1803-1933

Victoria - https://www.BDM.vic.gov.au/search-your-family-history

The Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages now provides a free searchable Historical index to:

• Church baptisms, marriages and burials 1836-1853
• Births 1853 -100 years ago
• Marriages 1853 - 60 years ago
• Deaths 1853 - 30 years ago
• Events at sea (Marine) births, deaths and marriages on ships bound for Victoria between 1853 and 1920. Ship's names are included on this index.

PDF images of historical certificates can be purchased and immediately downloaded online.

They also have an Index to Victorian Wills, Probate and Administration Records 1841-2016 . Only records from 1841-1925 can be viewed online.

Ancestry Library Edition gives access to the following:

• Victoria Birth Index 1837-1917
• Victoria Marriage Index 1837-1950
• Victoria Death Index 1836-1988

Findmypast (World Edition) Subscription

• Victoria Births 1836-1917
• Victoria Marriages 1836-1942
• Victoria Deaths 1836-1985

Western Australia - https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/the-registry-of-births-deaths-and-marriages

The Western Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages provides a free online index to the following:

• Births 1841-1932
• Marriages 1841 -1936
• Deaths 1841-1971

Find my Past subscription:

• Western Australia Birth Index
• Western Australia Marriage Index
• Western Australia Death Index

Note: Each state will also have archived Church Records available through various sites. You will need to google to find these.