Delayed Registration of Alberta Vital Events

When an Alberta event is not registered within one year from the day of the event, legislation requires it be registered by Vital Statistics as a delayed registration.

To register a delayed event, substantial supporting evidence is required to prove:

  • When the event occurred 
  • To verify the event occurred in Alberta

The following is a list of requirements needed to complete a delayed registration:

  • Supporting Proof - providing proof/evidence is the first step to completing a delayed registration (see the suggested proof/evidence for birth, marriage, and death)

  • Statutory Declarations and an Event Registration - these forms will be partially prepared by Vital Statistics and sent to you when it has been determined that sufficient proof has been submitted

  • Fees - the processing fee is $20.00 (you will be asked to submit the fee along with the completed declarations and registration)

The documentation/proof listed in the tables below are suggestions of what might be acceptable to proceed with a delayed registration. Vital Statistics will examine any and all documents to determine if the evidence is acceptable or if further documents will be required.

Delayed Registration of Birth

Supporting Proof Requirements

One document in the Class A Evidence category or at least two pieces of Class B Evidence.

Note:  Documents submitted will be reviewed by Vital Statistics to determine acceptability.  Further documentation may be required.

Class A Evidence: Delayed Registration of Birth

To qualify as Class A Evidence, the document must be:

  • Dated before the individual's fourth birthday

  • Contain all the following information: 

    • Full name of the individual
    • Date of birth
    • Place of birth
    • Parent's names (father may not be listed)
    • Date of record

When a Class A document has all the required information, no other evidence is needed.

The following are examples of Class A Evidence documents:

  1. A baptismal, christening, blessing, or similar church or religious record; if a baptismal certificate is obtained you will also be required to supply:

    • A letter with the name, location and phone number of the church or diocese who issued the certificate

    • A photocopy of the page from the baptismal register where the birth information was recorded

  2. A document from the medical records department in the hospital where the person was born 

  3. A letter or report from the doctor or  midwife present at the person's birth

 

Class B Evidence: Delayed Registration of Birth

Class B documents (two or more) must be:

  • Dated after the person's fourth birthday or a Class A document dated before the person's fourth birthday that does not contain all the Class A requirements

  • A document dated at least five years before you apply for a delayed registration

The following are examples of Class B Evidence documents:

  1. Baptismal, christening, blessing or similar church record (consult the church where the event took place or the head diocese for information on their records)

  2. Census record/1940 National Registration Record (an application for a search of these records is available from Vital Statistics)

  3. Copy of the person's original marriage record or his or her child's birth record which shows this person's date of birth or age at time of event (Note: If the marriage or birth was in Alberta, the records are on file in our office. To obtain such a record, send us the names and dates and location of the event and we will search for the records -- Alberta events only.)

  4. School records (Note: The Alberta Department of Education has records dating back to 1930 for persons who attended a school in Alberta. For more information contact them at 780-427-3941.)

  5. Life insurance policies, employment records, health/medical records, army discharge records, etc.

Delayed Registration of Marriage

Note:  Documents submitted will be reviewed by Vital Statistics to determine acceptability.  Further documentation may be required.

Evidence: Delayed Registration of Marriage

To qualify as a Primary Evidence document, it must contain:
  • Full name of the bride
  • Full name of the groom
  • Date of marriage
  • Place of marriage

The following are examples of Primary Evidence documents:

  • A copy of the marriage register confirming this marriage took place (Note: This register is maintained by the church where the marriage was performed, or by the marriage commissioner who performed the marriage. The name, location and phone number of the church/marriage commissioner should be included for verification purposes.)

  • Church marriage certificate (this certificate is issued by the church confirming the marriage took place)

  • Civil marriage statement/certificate (this is a certificate issued by the marriage commissioner who performed the marriage) 

Delayed Registration of Death

Note:  Documents submitted will be reviewed by Vital Statistics to determine acceptability. Further documentation maybe required.

Evidence: Delayed Registration of Death

To qualify as a Primary Evidence document, it must contain:
  • The full name of the deceased
  • The date of death
  • The place of death

The following are examples of acceptable Primary Evidence documents:

  • Funeral home statement (this is the statement/certificate issued by the funeral home at the time of the death)

  • Copy of the register page/book kept by the funeral home

  • Confirmation of details from the attending physician, medical examiner or hospital where the death occurred

For more information on registering a delayed event, contact the Vital Statistics office.