View source for GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Puerto Rico Births

{{New page title|New title=Puerto Rico Births- What else you can try}}
This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find birth information for your ancestor. Use this page after first completing the birth section of the  [[GuidedResearch:Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico Guided Research]] page.
__NOTOC__<br>
<br>
{{Dropdown|    <!-- Define dropdown-->
  Dropdown title=Additional online resources||
  Dropdown text style=font-size:20px !important; color:#0B0BEC !important; text-decoration:underline !important; display:inline-block; font-weight:bold;|
}}

=== Additional Databases and Online Resources ===
*'''1885-2001:''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9100/ '''<u>Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations</u>'''] at Ancestry ($)
{{Dropdown end}}
<br><br>
{{Dropdown|    <!-- Define dropdown-->
  Dropdown title=Substitute records|
  Dropdown text style=font-size:20px !important; color:#0B0BEC !important; text-decoration:underline !important; display:inline-block; font-weight:bold;|
}}
=== Additional Records with Birth Information ===
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. Records that are used to substitute for birth events may not have been created at the time of the birth. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records. 
{| width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| colspan="3" | '''Use these substitute records to locate birth information about your ancestor:'''
|-
| width="10%" | <center>''Wiki Page''</center>
| width="15%" | <center>''FamilySearch(FS) Collections''</center>
| width="75%" | ''Why to search the records''
|-
| width="10%" | <center>[[Puerto Rico Cemeteries| Cemetery Records]] </center>
| width="15%" | <center>See Wiki Page</center>
| width="75%" | Gravestone inscriptions and cemetery records may include a birthdate. 
|-
| width="10%" | <center>[[Puerto Rico Census| Census Records]] </center>
| width="15%" | <center>See Wiki page</center>
| width="75%" | Census records from 1910 onward and the Social Populations Schedule for 1935-1936 give birthdates and parents' names.  Many times these dates are estimated, so other sources should be checked to verify accuracy.
|-
| width="10%" | <center>[[Puerto Rico Emigration and Immigration| Immigration and Naturalization Records]] </center>
| width="15%" | <center><u>[https://www.familysearch.org/search/location/caribbean-and-central-america/puerto-rico?recordType=4 Immigration and Naturalization FS Collection]  </u></center>
| width="75%" | The naturalization records can give parents' names, birth date and birth place.
|-
| width="10%" | <center>[[Puerto Rico Compiled Genealogies| Puerto Rico Genealogies]] </center>
| width="15%" | <center>See Wiki page</center>
| width="75%" | Genealogies can provide information which can provide birth date and place.
|-
|}
<br>
{{Dropdown end}}
<br><br>
{{Dropdown|    <!-- Define dropdown-->
  Dropdown title=Improve searching|
  Dropdown text style=font-size:20px !important; color:#0B0BEC !important; text-decoration:underline !important; display:inline-block; font-weight:bold;|
}}
=== Tips for finding births ===
Successfully finding birth records in online databases depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
:*'''Spelling variations.''' Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
:*'''Puerto Rican Surnames.''' Puerto Ricans used the last names of both parents as the surname. Try using one surname, then the other surname, or both surnames together.
:*'''Search given name.''' Search by given name (leave out the last name) with the approximate date of birth.
:*'''Add information.''' For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
:*'''Date range.''' Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
:*'''Search Municipality.''' Search using the municipality only without the country name.
<br>
{{Dropdown end}}
<br><br>
{{Dropdown|    <!-- Define dropdown-->
  Dropdown title=Why the record may not exist|
  Dropdown text style=font-size:20px !important; color:#0B0BEC !important; text-decoration:underline !important; display:inline-block; font-weight:bold;|
}}
=== Known Record Gaps ===
'''Records Start'''<br>
:*Civil registration records started in 1885. Records in some municipalities exist prior to 1885. 
:*Catholic church records began in some parishes as early as 1645.
<br>
'''Records Destroyed'''<br>
There are no known record losses for Puerto Rico. <br> 
<br>
{| style="width:70%; vertical-align:top;"
|- 
|style="width:16%; vertical-align:top;"|

|}
<br>

{{Dropdown end}}
<br><br><br>
{{GR Footer}}<br>

[[Category:Sandbox]]