Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre) with amending laws of:
9 February 2017 [shall come
into force on 9 March 2017];
1 March 2018 [shall come into force on 1 June
2018];
25 March 2021 [shall come into force on 20 April
2021];
14 July 2022 [shall come into force on 29 July 2022].
If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the
date of the amending law appears in square brackets at
the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or
clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears
in square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph
or clause.
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The Saeima 1 has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:
Law on Registration of Civil
Status Acts
Chapter I
General Provisions
Section 1. Purpose of the Law
The purpose of this Law is to regulate legal relations in the
field of the registration of civil status acts - the fact of
marriage, birth and death.
Section 2. Civil Status Act
A civil status act is a fact or an event in the life of a
person, which creates, changes or terminates family and other
property and non-financial rights and duties related to the
kinship of the person.
Section 3. Registration of a Civil
Status Act
(1) A civil status act shall be registered by the General
Registry institution by drawing up, updating or renewing an entry
in the marriage, birth or death register (hereinafter - the entry
in the register of civil status acts), on the basis of which a
document confirming registration of a civil status act shall be
issued.
(2) Within the meaning of this Law the General Registry
institution is a local government General Registry office
(hereinafter - the General Registry office) and a diplomatic and
consular mission of the Republic of Latvia in a foreign state
(hereinafter - the mission).
(3) The General Registry office shall register marriage, the
notified fact of birth or death, update and renew an entry in the
register of civil status acts.
(4) The mission shall accept an application regarding updating
or renewing an entry in the register of civil status acts for
forwarding to the Ministry of Justice, as well as register:
1) marriage of Latvian citizens and Latvian non-citizens
staying in foreign states in case if the life of the groom or
bride is endangered by a disease, or in other urgent cases when
conclusion of marriage in the General Registry office or the
relevant foreign state is not possible;
2) the notified fact of birth;
3) the notified fact of death.
(5) In registering a civil status act or in receiving a repeat
document confirming registration of a civil status act, the
person shall present a valid personal identification document.
Upon receiving an application regarding concluding marriage, upon
registering marriage, the notified fact of birth or death, the
General Registry institution shall verify the provided
information in the Register of Natural Persons. If the
information provided to the General Registry institution does not
conform to the electronically obtained data, the official of such
institution shall evaluate the relevant information according to
the presented or submitted documents.
(6) The procedures for the registration of civil status acts,
sample entries in registers of civil status acts, the procedures
for storing entries in registers of civil status acts and samples
of such documents which are issued on the basis of entries in
registers of civil status acts shall be determined by the
Cabinet.
(7) The amount, procedures for payment and relief of the State
fee for registration of civil status acts shall be determined by
the Cabinet.
[25 March 2021 / Amendment to Paragraph five shall
come into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
Section 4. Refusal to Register a
Civil Status Act
(1) The registration of a civil status act shall be refused
if:
1) registration of the civil status act is in contradiction
with this Law or other laws;
2) the documents submitted or presented by the person do not
conform to the requirements laid down in this Law and other
laws.
(2) Upon request of such person who has been refused
registration of a civil status act, an official of the General
Registry institution shall issue a justified refusal to register
the civil status act in writing.
(3) A person may appeal a refusal to register a civil status
act to a court in accordance with the procedures laid down in the
Administrative Procedure Law.
Section 5. Entries in Registers of
Civil Status Acts
(1) The concluded marriage, the notified fact of birth or
death shall be registered by making a relevant entry in the
marriage, birth or death register.
(2) Information regarding dissolution of marriage shall be
indicated in an entry in the marriage register.
(3) Information regarding recognition of paternity,
determination of paternity, determination of the fact of
paternity, contesting of the assumption of paternity, recognition
of paternity as non-existing, approval of adoption, revocation of
adoption shall be indicated in an entry in the birth
register.
(4) Information in the register of civil status acts shall be
entered in the official language. Persons names shall be entered
in accordance with the norms of the literary Latvian language
regarding orthography and use of persons names. The original form
of the given name and surname of a foreigner shall be entered in
transliteration of the Roman alphabet according to the entry in a
valid personal identification document.
Section 6. Right to Get Acquainted
with Entries in Registers of Civil Status Acts and to Request
Repeatedly Documents Confirming Registration of Civil Status
Acts
(1) An official of the General Registry office, an employee
and a career consular official in the mission shall maintain
confidentiality in carrying out work duties and shall not
disclose the acquired information illegally.
(2) According to an application of a person, the General
Registry institution or the Ministry of Justice shall re-submit
the documents referred to in Section 47, Paragraph one of this
Law, if the civil status act is registered with the General
Registry institution. If dissolution of marriage has been
registered with the General Registry office by 31 August 1994,
the General Registry office or the Ministry of Justice shall
issue a statement regarding dissolution of marriage according to
the entry in the register of dissolution of marriage or a
statement regarding registration of marriage or dissolution of
marriage according to the entry in the marriage register. If
marriage was dissolved after 31 August 1993, the General Registry
office or the Ministry of Justice shall issue a statement
regarding registration of marriage or dissolution of marriage
according to the entry in the marriage register.
(3) A person has a duty to request repeatedly a document
confirming registration of a civil status act, if it contains
inaccuracies or damages due to which it is impossible to read the
indicated information, or it was issued in the General Registry
office in accordance with the procedures laid down in the
Marriage and Family Code of Latvian S.S.R. and such document must
be presented or submitted to a foreign institution.
(4) A person regarding whom entry was made or his or her
authorised person has the right to get acquainted with an entry
in the marriage register and to request a marriage certificate, a
statement regarding registration of marriage or a copy of the
entry in the marriage register. If a marriage is terminated by a
death of one spouse or by declaring such spouse as deceased, the
General Registry institution or the Ministry of Justice shall
issue a statement regarding registration of marriage according to
the entry in the marriage register.
(5) A person regarding whom entry was made or his or her
authorised person has the right to get acquainted with an entry
in the birth register (except an entry in the register which is
related to adoption) and to request a birth certificate, a
statement regarding registration of birth or a copy of the entry
in the birth register. Parents or legal representative of the
child have the right to get acquainted with an entry in the birth
register of a minor person and to request a birth certificate, a
statement regarding registration of birth or a copy of the entry
in the birth register.
(6) The person regarding whom entry was made and his or her
authorised person has the right to get acquainted with an entry
in the birth register of an adopted person of legal age and to
request a birth certificate, a statement regarding registration
of birth or a copy of the entry in the birth register. Adopter or
legal representative of the child, or his or her authorised
person has the right to get acquainted with an entry in the birth
register of a minor adopted person and to request a birth
certificate, a statement regarding registration of birth or a
copy of the entry in the birth register.
(7) Relative of a deceased person or his or her authorised
person has the right to get acquainted with an entry in the death
register and to request a death certificate, a statement
regarding registration of death or a copy of the entry in the
death register.
(8) Another person has the right to request and receive a
statement regarding registration of a civil status act if he or
she proves his or her legal interest.
(9) A copy of the entry in the register of civil status acts
shall, upon request, be issued to the court, the Office of the
Prosecutor, an investigating institution, the Ministry of
Justice, the General Registry institution, the Orphan's and
Custody Court, and a notary.
[9 February 2017; 25 March 2021]
Chapter II
Processing Data of Registers of Civil Status Acts
[25 March 2021 / The new
wording of the name of the Chapter shall come into force on 28
June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 7. Processing Data of
Registers of Civil Status Acts
(1) The General Registry institution shall include, update and
renew information regarding marriages concluded, registered facts
of birth and death in the Register of Natural Persons in
conformity with Section 3, Paragraphs three and four of this
Law.
(2) [25 March 2021]
(3) The procedures by which the General Registry institution,
the Ministry of Justice and the Office of Citizenship and
Migration Affairs shall include, update and renew information
regarding civil status acts in the Register of Natural Persons,
as well as the extent of such information and the procedures by
which it shall be issued from the Register of Natural Persons
shall be determined by the Cabinet.
[25 March 2021 / The new wording of the title of the
Section and Paragraph one, amendment regarding the deletion of
Paragraph two and amendments to Paragraph three shall come into
force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
Section 8. Registration of Entries
in Registers of Civil Status Acts
Registration of entries in registers of civil status acts
shall be conducted individually according to the types of
registers of civil status acts. Entry numbers of registers of
civil status acts shall be assigned in chronological order
depending on the time when the relevant fact or event was
registered.
Section 9. Computer Print-out of an
Entry in the Register of Civil Status Acts
(1) The General Registry institution shall prepare a computer
print-out of an entry in the register of civil status acts after
inclusion of the information referred to in Section 7, Paragraph
one of this Law in the Register of Natural Persons.
(2) The computer print-out referred to in Paragraph one of
this Section shall be signed by an official or employee of the
General Registry institution and the person to whom the entry in
the register of civil status acts applies, or the person who is
the declarant of the relevant fact, and it shall be approved with
a seal with the State coat of arms.
[25 March 2021 / Amendment to Paragraph one shall come into
force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
Chapter III
General Registry Office
Section 10. Establishment of a
General Registry Office
(1) A General Registry office shall be established by a State
city local government or municipality government. The
administrative territory of the relevant State city or
municipality shall be the territory of operation of the General
Registry office, except for the cases referred to in Paragraph
two of this Section.
(2) After co-ordination with the Ministry of Justice, a local
government may establish several General Registry offices in one
State city or municipality or also several local governments may
establish a joint General Registry office. In such cases the
territory of operation of each General Registry office shall be
determined. The Minister for Justice may suggest a local
government (local governments) to examine an issue regarding
reorganisation of a General Registry office (offices).
(3) The name of a General Registry office shall be created by
adding the words "General Registry Office" to the relevant name
of the administrative territory of operation of the General
Registry office.
(4) Information regarding establishment of a General Registry
office or amending of the territory of operation thereof shall be
published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis and
on the webpage of the relevant local government.
(5) Each General Registry office shall have a seal with an
image of the supplemented lesser State coat of arms and the full
name of the General Registry office.
(6) Financial resources for the operation of the General
Registry office shall be assigned by the relevant local
government.
[25 March 2021 / Amendments to Paragraphs one and two
regarding the replacement of words "republic city" (in the
relevant case) with the words "State city" (in the relevant case)
shall come into force on 1 July 2021. See Paragraph 11 of
Transitional Provisions]
Section 11. Supervision of a General
Registry Office
(1) Supervision of a General Registry office shall be carried
out by the Minister for Justice.
(2) The Ministry of Justice shall supervise the compliance
with laws and regulations in registration of civil status acts,
as well as manage the General Registry office
methodologically.
Section 12. Officials and Employees
of a General Registry Office
(1) An official and employee of a General Registry office
shall by hired by the relevant local government. An official of
the General Registry office shall be appointed to his or her
position after co-ordination with the Ministry of Justice.
(2) Within the meaning of this Law officials of the General
Registry office are the head of the General Registry office and
the deputy head of the General Registry office.
(3) The following person may be an official of the General
Registry office:
1) who is a citizen of Latvia;
2) who has reached at least 25 years of age;
3) who has acquired at least first level vocational higher
education in law;
4) who is proficient in the official language.
(4) The insignia of office of the head of the General Registry
office shall be determined by the Cabinet.
[9 February 2017]
Section 13. Rights and Obligations
of Officials and Employees of the General Registry Office
(1) The head of a General Registry office shall be responsible
for the operation of the General Registry office.
(2) An official of the General Registry office shall register
marriage and renew an entry in the register of civil status acts.
The fact of birth and death may be registered and an entry in the
register of civil status acts may be updated by an employee of
the General Registry office.
(3) An official or employee of the General Registry office
shall not perform registration of civil status acts if it is
related to the official or employee himself or herself, his or
her spouse, relatives up to the fourth degree and affines up to
the third degree, his or her adopters or adoptees, to a person
under guardianship or trusteeship of the official or employee and
his or her spouse or also if the official or employee is the
person notifying the fact to be registered.
(4) An interested person may contest the actual action of the
official or employee of the General Registry office in accordance
with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure
Law.
Section 14. Tasks of the General
Registry Office
The General Registry office shall perform the following
tasks:
1) register marriage, notified facts of birth and death and
marriages concluded by ministers of the denominations indicated
in Section 51 of the Civil Law;
2) issue documents confirming registration of civil status
acts;
3) keep files of updating and renewal of entries in registers
of civil status acts;
4) update and renew entries in registers of civil status
acts;
5) keep files related to changing the entry of the given name,
surname and nationality;
6) retain the record group of the General Registry office.
Section 15. Duty to Provide
Information and to Submit Documents to the General Registry
Office
(1) All persons and institutions have a duty to provide the
General Registry office with free-of-charge information that is
necessary for the registration of civil status acts, as well as
to ensure the General Registry office with the relevant
documents.
(2) The person shall be liable according to the law for
providing false information to the General Registry office.
Section 16. Duty of the General
Registry Office to Provide Information
(1) The General Registry office shall notify the Orphan's and
Custody Court:
1) regarding birth of a child to a minor person;
2) if in registering the fact of death it becomes known that
minor children of the deceased person are left without parental
care.
(2) The General Registry office shall inform the diplomatic
and consular mission in Latvia accredited by the country of
citizenship of the deceased person regarding registration of the
fact of death of a foreigner. If the diplomatic and consular
mission of the respective country is not in Latvia, the Consular
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be informed
regarding registration of the fact of death of a foreigner
(except a person who has been recognised as a stateless person in
the Republic of Latvia).
[9 February 2017]
Chapter IV
Registration of Marriage
Section 17. Documents Required for
Conclusion of Marriage
(1) Persons who wish to conclude marriage shall submit to a
General Registry institution a joint submission of a specific
sample, signed by both parties, in person, except for the case
specified in Paragraph 1.1 of this Section. Upon
submitting the submission in person, they shall present a valid
personal identification document.
(11) Latvian citizens of legal age or Latvian
non-citizens of legal age may submit a submission regarding
concluding marriage also electronically to the General Registry
office in which they wish to conclude marriage, provided that the
submission is signed with a secure electronic signature and it
has a time stamp.
(2) Persons who have previously been in another marriage and
information regarding dissolution of marriage has not been
included in the Register of Natural Persons shall present one of
the following documents:
1) the death certificate of the former spouse;
2) the certificate of dissolution of marriage issued by the
General Registry office or a sworn notary;
3) a court judgment which has entered into lawful effect and
by which marriage has been dissolved or recognised as
invalid;
4) an extract or statement from the register of dissolution of
marriage or the marriage register with information regarding
dissolution of marriage.
(3) If a person who wishes to conclude marriage is a minor, a
written permit of parents or guardians of such person or the
Orphan's and Custody Court shall be appended to the
submission.
(4) If it is not possible for a person who wishes to conclude
marriage to obtain the document referred to in Paragraph two of
this Section, it shall be substituted with a court judgment
regarding determination of the relevant fact.
(5) If persons wish to conclude marriage not in the General
Registry institution in which they submitted the submission
regarding concluding marriage, but in another General Registry
institution or by a priest, the General Registry institution in
which the submission regarding concluding marriage was submitted
shall issue a statement regarding checking of the documents
necessary for concluding marriage to them. The statement shall be
valid for six months after the day it was issued.
[1 March 2018; 25 March 2021 / Amendment to
Paragraph two shall come into force on 28 June 2021. See
Paragraph 10 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 18. Right of a Foreigner to
Conclude Marriage
(1) A citizen of the European Union, European Economic Area
state or the Swiss Confederation or a citizen of another state, a
stateless person, a refugee or a person who has been granted
alternative status and who at the time of concluding marriage is
entitled to stay in the Republic of Latvia, may conclude marriage
with a citizen of the Republic of Latvia, a non-citizen of the
Republic of Latvia, a citizen of the European Union, European
Economic Area state or the Swiss Confederation or a citizen of
another state, a stateless person, a refugee or a person who has
been granted alternative status and who at the time of concluding
marriage is entitled to stay in the Republic of Latvia.
(2) In addition to the documents referred to in Section 17 of
this Law a foreigner shall submit a document issued by the
competent authority of the relevant foreign state regarding
marital status.
(3) If a person who has been granted the status of a stateless
person in the Republic of Latvia, a refugee status or an
alternative status does not have the necessary documents and it
is not possible to obtain such documents, the relevant documents
shall be substituted with a written declaration of the
referred-to person regarding his or her marital status.
(4) An official of the General Registry office is entitled to
determine another time for registering the marriage, which is no
less than a month, but no longer than six months from the day
when the submission was accepted, in order to check the presented
and submitted documents.
Section 19. Registration of
Marriage
(1) Marriage shall be registered in the General Registry
institution on a specific day in presence of the persons who wish
to conclude marriage and witnesses of legal age, if the obstacles
for concluding marriage indicated in Sections 32, 35, 37 and 38
of the Civil Law have not become known.
(2) Upon request of persons an official of the General
Registry office may register marriage in another appropriate
place, if the persons who wish to conclude marriage ensure
conditions appropriate or corresponding for registration of
marriage.
(3) The General Registry institution shall ensure solemn
registration of marriage, if persons wish for it. During
registration of marriage the official of the General Registry
office shall wear the insignia of office.
(4) If a citizen of Latvia or a non-citizen of Latvia
concludes marriage outside the Republic of Latvia in conformity
with the laws of such foreign state in the territory of which the
marriage is concluded, such marriage shall be valid in the
Republic of Latvia, if the provisions of Sections 32, 35, 37 and
38 of the Civil Law have been complied with.
(5) The procedures for registration of marriage at a place of
imprisonment shall be determined by the Cabinet.
Section 20. Registration of Marriage
Concluded by a Minister
(1) The General Registry office shall also register marriages
concluded by ministers of the denominations indicated in Section
51 of the Civil Law.
(2) If persons for whom the obstacles for concluding marriage
indicated in Sections 32, 35, 37 and 38 of the Civil Law are
established at the time of concluding marriage have concluded
marriage with a minister, the General Registry office shall make
an entry in the marriage register and notify the State Police
Board of territorial competence thereof.
(3) Ministers of the denominations indicated in Section 51 of
the Civil Law shall comply with all provisions of this Law
regarding registration of marriage and State fee in registering
marriage.
Section 21. Information to be
Included in an Entry in the Marriage Register
(1) The following information shall be indicated in an entry
in the marriage register:
1) the date of concluding the marriage;
2) the name of the General Registry institution which
registers the marriage;
3) the place of concluding the marriage;
4) the given name, surname of spouses before concluding the
marriage, the surname after concluding the marriage, personal
identity number (if such has been granted), the marital status,
the place of residence, the date and place of birth, the
nationality, the ethnicity;
5) which marriage (by number) each spouse concludes;
6) a document confirming termination of the previous marriage
if the person has been married;
7) the given name, surname, personal identity number or date
of birth of witnesses;
8) the marriage certificate number.
(2) The computer print-out of the entry from the marriage
register shall be signed by the spouses, witnesses and official
of the General Registry institution. The computer print-out of
the entry from the marriage register shall be approved with a
seal with the State coat of arms.
Section 22. Issuance of a Marriage
Certificate
After registration of marriage an official of the General
Registry institution or a minister shall issue a marriage
certificate to the spouses.
Section 23. Additions to the
Marriage Register
(1) An entry in the marriage register shall be supplemented
with information regarding dissolution of marriage, recognition
of marriage as invalid, change in the entry of the ethnicity,
personal identity number, or nationality of the spouse.
(2) An entry in the marriage register shall be supplemented on
the basis of a court judgment, a true copy of a foreign court
judgment which conforms to the conditions according to which the
authenticity thereof may be established, on the basis of a
certificate for a ruling in a matrimonial matter which, in
accordance with the legal norms of the European Union, has been
issued by a foreign court or competent authority, or on the basis
of a notification of the notary regarding dissolution of
marriage.
[25 March 2021; 14 July 2022]
Chapter V
Registration of the Fact of the Birth
Section 24. Notification Regarding
the Birth of a Child
(1) The General Registry institution shall be notified
regarding the birth of a child within a month after the child is
born.
(2) In notifying regarding the birth of a child, a medical
certificate issued by a medical treatment institution or a
medical practitioner that confirms the fact of birth shall be
submitted.
Section 25. Persons who have a Duty
to Notify Regarding the Birth of a Child
(1) The father or mother of a child has a duty to notify
regarding the birth of the child. The father and mother of the
child may authorise another person to notify regarding the birth
of the child in accordance with the procedures laid down in
law.
(2) If the parents of a child are deceased or the birth of a
child may not be notified due to other reasons, a medical
practitioner or other person who was present at childbirth has a
duty to notify regarding the birth of the child.
(3) If the child was born in a shelter or a place of
imprisonment, the head of the relevant institution has a duty to
notify regarding such birth in writing. The birth of the child
and the presence of his or her parents in the place of
imprisonment shall not be indicated in the entry in the birth
register.
(4) If none of the persons referred to in this Section have
notified the birth of a child and the birth of the child has
become known to a local government, such local government has a
duty to notify the General Registry office in writing regarding
the birth of the child.
Section 26. Registration of the Fact
of the Birth
(1) The General Registry office shall ensure solemn
registration of the fact of the birth of a child if the parents
wish for such registration. During solemn registration of the
fact of the birth of a child the official of the General Registry
office shall wear the insignia of office.
(2) The General Registry office may also register the fact of
the birth of a child in a medical treatment institution which
ensures assistance in delivery.
(3) After registration of the fact of the birth an official or
employee of the General Registry institution shall issue a birth
certificate to the parents of the child or the person who
notified regarding the fact of the birth.
Section 27. Registration of the
Birth of Twins and Multiple Children
If twins or multiple children are born, the birth of each
child shall be registered individually. The sequence of the
births of the children shall be indicated in the entry in the
birth register.
Section 28. Registration of a
Stillborn Child or Child who Died at Birth
(1) If a child is stillborn or has died at birth, a medical
treatment institution or a medical practitioner has a duty to
notify the General Registry office thereof within eight days.
(2) Upon registering a stillborn child or a child who died at
birth, the following shall be indicated in the entry in the birth
register: "Child is stillborn." or "Child died at birth." In such
case registration of the fact of death shall not be performed. A
statement regarding registration of the birth shall be issued to
the persons referred to in Section 26, Paragraph three of this
Law.
(3) If a child lived for a short period of time (also a few
minutes) after birth, the fact of both his or her birth and death
shall be registered. In such case a statement regarding
registration of the birth and a death certificate shall be issued
to the persons referred to in Section 26, Paragraph three of this
Law.
Section 29. Registration of the Fact
of Birth of a Foundling
(1) A foundling is a child found whose parents are
unknown.
(2) A person who has found the child referred to in Paragraph
one of this Section shall notify the State Police Board of
territorial competence thereof without delay.
(3) The relevant local government authority in co-operation
with a medical treatment institution shall determine the possible
time and place of birth of the child, give the child a given name
and surname and notify the General Registry office thereof.
(4) If the child was placed in a baby hatch, a medical
treatment institution shall determine the possible time and place
of birth of the child, give the child a given name and surname
and notify the General Registry office thereof.
(5) In the cases referred to in Paragraphs three and four of
this Section, the following shall be indicated in the entry in
the birth register: "Foundling, parents unknown."
Section 30. Overdue Notification
Regarding the Birth of a Child
(1) If notification regarding the birth of a child is overdue
by more than a month, the fact of the birth of the child shall be
registered after ascertaining the circumstances of delay. The
fact of the birth shall be registered on the basis of a
submission by one or both parents, or other interested
persons.
(2) The fact of the birth for a person of legal age shall be
registered on the basis of a submission of the relevant person of
legal age.
(3) In the cases referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this
Section a medical certificate issued by a medical treatment
institution or a medical practitioner, confirming the fact of the
birth, shall be submitted to the General Registry
institution.
Section 31. Information to be
Included in an Entry in the Birth Register
(1) The following information shall be indicated in an entry
in the birth register:
1) the given name, surname, personal identity number (if such
has been granted), sex, ethnicity, nationality (if such has been
determined) and place of residence of the child. If the child is
stillborn or died at birth, the given name need not be
written;
2) the time and place of the birth of the child;
3) the given name, surname, personal identity number (if such
has been granted), date of birth, address of the place of
residence, ethnicity and nationality of the parents;
4) the number, issuing authority and date of issue of a
personal identification document of the parents, if parents of
the child are not citizens of Latvia or non-citizens of
Latvia;
5) a document, on the basis of which information regarding the
father of the child is entered (the number, date and place of
drawing up of the marriage register or the number, date and place
of submitting the submission for recognition of paternity, or the
number and date of a court judgment in legal force and the court
which rendered the judgment);
6) the given name, surname, personal identity number or date
of birth of the person, if the person has not been granted a
personal identity number, who notified regarding the birth of the
child, and relation to the child (for example, father, mother,
medical practitioner, head of an institution);
7) the birth certificate number;
8) the date when the medical treatment institution or medical
practitioner issued the medical certificate that certifies the
fact of birth, and the number of the referred-to certificate.
(2) The computer print-out of an entry in the birth register
shall be signed by the person who notified regarding the birth of
a child and an official or employee of the General Registry
institution. If a written notification of an institution has been
received, it shall be indicated that an entry in the birth
register has been made on the basis of the relevant notification.
The computer print-out of the entry from the birth register shall
be approved with a seal with the State coat of arms.
Section 32. Given Name, Surname and
Ethnicity of a Child
(1) The given name of a child shall be entered in accordance
with an instruction of the parents. If the parents are unable to
reach an agreement, the given name of the child shall be entered
in accordance with a decision of the Orphan's and Custody Court.
A child may not be given more than two names.
(2) The surname of a child shall be entered in accordance with
the surname of the parents. If the parents have different
surnames, the child shall be given either the surname of the
father or of the mother in accordance with an agreement between
the parents. If the parents are unable to reach an agreement, the
surname of the child shall be entered in accordance with a
decision of the Orphan's and Custody Court.
(3) [25 March 2021]
(4) The ethnicity of the child, in accordance with an
agreement between the parents, need not be entered or the
ethnicity of relatives of the child shall be entered in direct
ascending line within two generations. If the parents are unable
to reach an agreement, the ethnicity of the child shall be
entered in accordance with a decision of the Orphan's and Custody
Court.
[25 March 2021]
Section 33. Address of the Place of
Residence of a Child
The address of the place of residence of a child shall be
entered upon instruction of the persons referred to in Section 25
of this Law.
Section 34. Information Regarding
the Parents of a Child
(1) Information regarding the mother of a child shall be
entered on the basis of a medical certificate issued by a medical
treatment institution or a medical practitioner, confirming the
fact of the birth of the child.
(2) Information regarding the father of the child shall be
entered on the basis of one of the following documents:
1) a marriage certificate or another document confirming
concluding marriage, if the mother of the child has not concluded
marriage until the birth of the child;
2) a paternity recognition submission, if the father and the
mother of the child have not concluded mutual marriage, however,
they have submitted a joint paternity recognition submission to
the General Registry office;
3) a joint paternity recognition submission of the mother of
the child, the husband of the mother of the child or the former
husband of the mother of the child and the biological father of
the child with a request to enter the biological father of the
child as the father of the child in the birth register, not the
husband or former husband of the mother of the child;
4) a marriage certificate or another document which confirms
concluding marriage, and a document which confirms the
termination of such marriage, if the marriage of the mother of
the child and her husband has been dissolved or recognised as
non-existing or the spouse has died and not more than 306 days
have passed from the day when the spouse died until the birth of
the child.
(3) If the mother of the child has concluded new marriage
within the time period referred to in Paragraph two, Clause 4 of
this Section after termination of marriage, information regarding
the father of the child shall be entered in accordance with
Paragraph two, Clause 1 of this Section.
(4) If the mother of the child is not in marriage and the
paternity of the child has not been recognised or determined
until the fact of the birth is registered, only information
regarding his or her mother shall be entered in the birth
register.
Section 35. Supplementation of an
Entry in the Birth Register after Recognition, Determination of
Paternity or Establishment of the Fact of Paternity
(1) An entry in the birth register shall be supplemented with
information regarding the father of a child if the paternity of
the child has been recognised, determined or the fact of
paternity has been established in accordance with the procedures
laid down in Sections 154, 155, 157 and 158 of the Civil Law.
(2) The parents of the child shall submit a joint paternity
recognition submission and other documents confirming the consent
of the persons to recognition of paternity, provided for in the
Civil Law, to the General Registry institution. A paternity
recognition submission may be submitted by one of the parents, if
an official of the General Registry institution, a sworn notary,
the Orphan's and Custody Court or a career consular official has
certified the authenticity of the signature of the absent father
or mother on the paternity recognition submission.
(3) Based on the submission of the person and an opinion of
the General Registry office, the General Registry office shall
make a repeated entry in the birth register if the entry in the
birth register which needs to be supplemented was registered in a
foreign state.
[9 February 2017]
Section 36. Supplementation of an
Entry in the Birth Register after Approval or Revocation of
Adoption
(1) An entry in the birth register shall be supplemented on
the basis of a court judgment that has entered into legal
effect:
1) on approval of adoption, if adoption has been approved in
accordance with the procedures provided for in Section 171 of the
Civil Law;
2) on revocation of adoption, if adoption has been revoked in
accordance with the procedures provided for in Section 175 of the
Civil Law.
(2) The parents of the child shall submit the court judgment
indicated in Paragraph one of this Section to the Ministry of
Justice. The Ministry of Justice may obtain such judgment using
the database of the Court Information System.
(3) Adopters shall not be entered as parents in the entry in
the birth register if it is determined in a court judgment.
(4) A personal identity number of a child shall be changed in
the entry in the birth register if it is determined in a court
judgment.
(5) Based on the submission of adopters and an opinion of the
General Registry office, the General Registry office of the Riga
State City shall draw up a repeated entry in the birth register
if the fact of birth of the adoptee was registered in a foreign
state.
[9 February 2017; 25 March 2021 / Amendment to
Paragraph five regarding the replacement of a word "city" with
the words "State City" shall come into force on 1 July 2021. See
Paragraph 11 of Transitional Provisions]
Section 37. Other Supplementations
to the Entry in the Birth Register
(1) An entry in the birth register shall be supplemented
if:
1) the person changes personal identity number, nationality,
the entry of ethnicity or sex, and also if a minor person changes
the given name or surname;
2) any of the parents of the person changes the personal
identity number, nationality, or the entry of ethnicity;
3) adoption has been approved, adoption has been revoked, the
entry regarding the father or mother of the person has been
cancelled, parents of a foundling have become known, parents have
been withdrawn the right of guardianship or the entry regarding
the father has been deleted, if it has been performed in
accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 58 of the
Marriage and Family Code of the Latvian S.S.R.
(2) The birth register shall be supplemented on the basis of a
court judgment, an administrative act, a medical certificate or
another document confirming the change of sex, or a submission of
the person.
[9 February 2017; 25 March 2021]
Chapter VI
Registration of the Fact of Death
Section 38. Notification Regarding
the Fact of Death
The fact of death shall be notified to the General Registry
institution within not less than six days from the time when the
death set in or when the deceased was found.
Section 39. Persons who have a Duty
to Notify Regarding the Fact of Death
(1) The spouse, another family member or another person who
has become aware of the fact of death of a person has a duty to
notify regarding the fact of death.
(2) If a person has died at a medical treatment institution,
social care or rehabilitation institution, assisted living
residence or place of imprisonment and the persons referred to in
Paragraph one of this Section have not notified regarding the
fact of death, the head of the relevant medical treatment
institution, social care or rehabilitation institution, assisted
living residence or place of imprisonment or his or her
authorised person has a duty to notify regarding the fact of
death in writing.
(3) If the persons referred to in Paragraphs one and two of
this Section have not notified regarding the fact of death and
information regarding the death of a person has become known to a
local government, it has a duty to notify regarding the fact of
death in writing.
(4) If an investigation is conducted in relation to the death
of a person and the persons referred to in Paragraphs one, two,
and three of this Section have not notified regarding the fact of
death, an investigating institution has a duty to notify
regarding the fact of death in writing.
[9 February 2017; 25 March 2021]
Section 40. Documents Confirming the
Fact of Death
(1) The fact of death shall be registered on the basis of one
of the following documents:
1) a medical certificate of a medical treatment institution or
a medical practitioner on the cause of death;
2) a court judgment on the fact of establishing the fact of
death or declaration of the person as deceased;
3) a notification of rehabilitation institutions on the death
of a politically repressed person.
(2) After registering the fact of death an official or
employee of the General Registry institution, upon request, shall
issue a death certificate to the person who notified regarding
the fact of death.
Section 41. Information to be
Included in the Death Register
(1) The following information shall be indicated in an entry
in the death register:
1) the given name, surname, personal identify number (if such
has been granted), the nationality (if such has been determined)
and place of residence of the deceased;
2) the place and time of death;
3) the date and place of birth of the deceased;
4) the marital status of the deceased (if the deceased was
married - the given name and surname of his or her spouse);
5) the given name, surname and personal identity number of the
parents of the deceased;
6) the cause of death;
7) the given name, surname, personal identity number or date
of birth of the person who notified regarding the fact of death,
as well as the relation of such person to the deceased;
8) the number, issuing authority and date of issue of a
personal identification document of the deceased;
9) the number of the death certificate;
10) the issuing authority of the medical certificate regarding
the cause of death (medical treatment institution or medical
practitioner), the date and number of issue of such
certificate.
(2) The person who notified regarding the fact of death and
the head or employee of the General Registry institution shall
sign the computer print-out of the entry in the death register.
If a written notification of an institution has been received, it
shall be indicated that an entry has been made on the basis of
the relevant notification. The computer print-out of the entry in
the death register shall be confirmed with a seal with the State
coat of arms.
Section 42. Registration of the Fact
of Death of an Unknown Person
(1) The fact of death of an unknown (unidentified) person
shall be confirmed by a medical certificate of a medical
treatment institution regarding the cause of death.
(2) If the deceased is identified later, the missing
information shall be entered on the basis of a statement issued
by a medical treatment institution regarding the recognition of
the person (body), a document of an investigating institution or
a court judgment.
[9 February 2017; 25 March 2021]
Chapter VII
Retention, Updating and Renewal of Entries in Registers of Civil
Status Acts
Section 43. Retention of Entries in
Registers of Civil Status Acts
(1) Entries in registers of civil status acts shall be
retained in printed form in one copy and in electronic form in
the Register of Natural Persons.
(2) The General Registry office which performed registration
of civil status acts shall retain entries in registers of civil
status acts in printed form for 100 years and afterwards shall
transfer them to the National Archives of Latvia.
[25 March 2021 / Amendment to Paragraph one shall come into
force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
Section 44. Updating of an Entry in
the Register of Civil Status Acts
(1) Updating of an entry in the register of civil status acts
is correcting, supplementing or cancelling an entry made
previously in the register of civil status acts.
(2) The General Registry office shall correct mistakes in an
entry in the register of civil status acts and enter the missing
or new information according to a submission of the interested
person, if the civil status act has been registered with the
General Registry institution, if there are sufficient grounds for
correcting or supplementation of the entry and if there is no
dispute between the interested persons.
(3) If the General Registry office does not have sufficient
grounds for correcting or supplementing an entry in the register
of civil status acts or if there is a dispute between the
interested persons, the entry in the register of civil status
acts shall be corrected or supplemented on the basis of a court
judgment.
(4) According to a submission of the mother or a person of
legal age an entry regarding the father of the child, if it was
made in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 58 of
the Marriage and Family Code of the Latvian S.S.R., shall be
cancelled on the basis of an opinion of an official of the
General Registry office.
(5) An entry in the register of civil status acts shall be
cancelled on the basis of a court judgment. If an unjustifiably
renewed or repeatedly drawn-up entry in the register of civil
status acts or the first entry in the register of civil status
acts is incomplete and the cancellation of the renewed or
repeatedly drawn-up entry in the register of civil status acts
would cause unfavourable legal effects for the person, it shall
be cancelled on the basis of the decision of the Ministry of
Justice.
[9 February 2017; 25 March 2021]
Section 45. Renewal of an Entry in
the Register of Civil Status Acts
(1) Renewal of an entry in the register of civil status acts
is re-registration of a previously registered civil status act
which has been destroyed or lost.
(2) The General Registry office shall renew an entry in the
register of civil status acts on the basis of a submission of
such person regarding whom the entry in the register of civil
status acts was drawn up, and documents confirming that the
relevant civil status document had been registered. An entry in
the death register shall be renewed on the basis of a court
judgment.
(3) If there are no sufficient grounds for renewal of an entry
in the register of civil status acts, an official of the General
Registry office shall issue a written refusal to the person to
restore an entry in the register of civil status acts. In such
case an entry in the register of civil status acts shall be
renewed on the basis of a court judgment.
(4) A civil status act registered in foreign states shall be
renewed by the General Registry office on the basis of a court
judgment.
[9 February 2017]
Chapter VIII
Legal Force of Entries in Registers of Civil Status Acts and
Documents Confirming Registration
Section 46. Evidentiary Value of
Entries in Registers of Civil Status Acts and Documents
Confirming Registration
(1) The entries in registers of civil status acts in the
Register of Natural Persons and in printed form and the documents
confirming registration issued on the basis thereof shall prove
the conclusion of marriage, registration of the fact of birth and
death and other information indicated in the entries in registers
of civil status acts.
(2) If a signed and approved entry in the register of civil
status acts in printed form and the relevant entry in the
Register of Natural Persons contains contradicting information,
the relevant entry in printed form shall be given preference.
(3) The registered facts may be appealed to a court in
accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative
Procedure Law.
[25 March 2021 / Amendment to Paragraphs one and two shall
come into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
Section 47. Documents Confirming the
Registration of Civil Status Acts
(1) On the basis of entries in registers of civil status acts,
the General Registry institution and the Ministry of Justice
shall issue the following documents confirming registration of
civil status acts:
1) marriage, birth or death certificate;
2) a statement regarding registration of a civil status
act;
3) an entry in the register of civil status acts which are
retained in the relevant institution in printed form (copy);
4) a computer print-out of an entry in the register of civil
status acts.
(2) The documents referred to in Paragraph one of this Section
shall be signed by an official of the General Registry
institution, the director of the Civil Registry Department or the
head of the Archives Division of the Civil Registry Department of
the Ministry of Justice and approved with a seal with the State
coat of arms.
(3) The Ministry of Justice shall ensure the making of blank
forms for marriage certificates to be issued by a minister.
[9 February 2017]
Section 48. Marriage Certificate
The following information shall be indicated in a marriage
certificate:
1) the given name, maiden surname and marital surname,
personal identity number (if such has been assigned) of the
spouses;
2) the date and place of birth of the spouses;
3) the nationality of the spouses;
4) the place where marriage was concluded, the date of
concluding marriage and the number in the marriage register;
5) the issuer of the marriage certificate and the date when
the certificate was issued.
Section 49. Birth Certificate
(1) The following information shall be indicated in a birth
certificate:
1) the given name, surname, personal identity number (if such
has been assigned) and the ethnicity of the child;
2) the time and place of the birth of the child;
3) the given name, surname, personal identity number (if such
has been assigned), the nationality and ethnicity of the
parents;
4) the institution which registered the fact of the birth, the
date and the number in the birth register;
5) the institution which issued the birth certificate and the
date when the certificate was issued.
(2) If the mother or father of a child is unknown, the
relevant boxes of the birth certificate shall not be filled
in.
(3) The adopters shall not be entered as the parents in the
birth certificate of an adopted child, if it has been specified
in a court judgment regarding approval of adoption.
Section 50. Death Certificate
The following information shall be indicated in a death
certificate:
1) the given name, surname, personal identity number (if such
has been assigned) of the deceased;
2) the date and place of birth of the deceased;
3) the date and place of death;
4) the institution which registered the fact of death, the
date when the fact of death was registered and the number in the
death register;
5) the institution which issued the death certificate and the
date when the certificate was issued.
Transitional Provisions
1. The Civil Status Acts Law (Latvijas Republikas Saeimas
un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 2005, No. 8; 2006, No. 12;
2009, No. 13; Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2010, No. 183) is
repealed.
2. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in
Section 2, Paragraphs six and seven, Section 7, Paragraph three,
Section 12, Paragraph four and Section 19, Paragraph five of this
Law not later than six months after coming into force of this
Law. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant Cabinet
regulations, the following Cabinet Regulations shall be
applicable, insofar as they are not in contradiction with this
Law:
1) Cabinet Regulation No. 457 of 28 June 2005, Regulations
Regarding the Amount and Payment Procedures of the State Fee for
Registration of Civil Status Acts;
2) Cabinet Regulation No. 477 of 28 June 2005, Regulations
Regarding the Insignia of Office of the Head of the General
Registry Office;
3) Cabinet Regulation No. 486 of 28 June 2005, Procedures for
Entering into Marriage in a Place of Imprisonment;
4) Cabinet Regulation No. 904 of 29 November 2005, Regulations
Regarding the Procedures for Registration of Civil Status Acts,
Sample Registers of Civil Status Acts, the Procedures and Time
Periods for Retention of Registers, as well as Samples of such
Documents which are Issued on the Basis of Entries in
Registers.
3. Inclusion of the information referred to in Section 7,
Paragraph one of this Law in the Register of Natural Persons
shall be commenced on 1 January 2013.
[25 March 2021 / Amendments to the Paragraph shall come
into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
4. The requirement referred to in Section 12, Paragraph three,
Clause 3 of this Law shall not apply to an official of the
General Registry office who has commenced employment relationship
until the day of coming into force of this Law.
5. The Register of Natural Persons shall replace the current
entries in registers of civil status acts in printed form,
preserving the data laid down in law. The current entries in
registers of civil status acts and alphabetical indices in
printed form shall be retained in the archives of the General
Registry office for 100 years and afterwards transferred to the
National Archives of Latvia.
[25 March 2021 / Amendments to the Paragraph shall come
into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
6. Until the day when inclusion of the information referred to
in Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law in the Register of
Natural Persons is commenced:
1) the General Registry office shall make an entry in the
register of civil status acts in printed form in two copies - one
copy shall be retained at the General Registry office, other copy
shall be transferred by the General Registry office to the
Central Statistical Bureau not later than until the fifth date of
the following month. At the end of the year the Central
Statistical Bureau shall transfer an entry in the register of
civil status acts for retention to the Ministry of Justice;
2) the mission shall make an entry in the register of civil
status acts in printed form in two copies - one copy shall be
sent to the Ministry of Justice with the intermediation of the
Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the end
of each quarter, and the Ministry of Justice shall examine it and
transfer for retention to the General Registry office of the Riga
City and shall send the other copy to the Central Statistical
Bureau. At the end of the year the Central Statistical Bureau
shall transfer an entry in the register of civil status acts for
retention to the Ministry of Justice.
[25 March 2021 / Amendments to the Paragraph shall come
into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
7. Until the day when inclusion of the information referred to
in Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law in the Register of
Natural Persons is commenced, the General Registry office and the
Ministry of Justice shall update and renew entries in the
register of civil status acts in accordance with the current
procedures.
[25 March 2021 / Amendments to the Paragraph shall come
into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
8. If a copy of the entry made in the register of civil status
acts until the day when inclusion of the information referred to
in Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law in the Register of
Natural Persons is commenced has been completely or partially
destroyed, it shall be replaced with a second copy of the
relevant entry in the register of civil status acts.
[25 March 2021 / Amendments to the Paragraph shall come
into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
9. Entries in the register of civil status acts which have
been made until the day when inclusion of the information
referred to in Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law in the
Register of Natural Persons is commenced and which are retained
at General Registry institutions shall be gradually included in
the Register of Natural Persons after verification of
completeness and accuracy thereof.
[25 March 2021 / Amendments to the Paragraph shall come
into force on 28 June 2021. See Paragraph 10 of Transitional
Provisions]
10. Amendments to this Law regarding the replacement of words
"unified register of civil status acts" (in the relevant case)
with the words "Register of Natural Persons" (in the relevant
case) and the replacement of words "Population Register" with the
words "Register of Natural Persons", the amendment regarding the
new wording of the title of Chapter II, and also amendments
regarding the new wording of the title and Paragraph one of
Section 7 and the deletion of Paragraph two shall come into force
concurrently with the Law on the Register of Natural Persons.
[25 March 2021]
11. Amendments to Section 10, Paragraphs one and two and
Section 36, Paragraph five of this Law shall come into force on 1
July 2021.
[25 March 2021]
The Law shall come into force on 1 January 2013.
The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 29 November
2012.
President A. Bērziņš
Rīga, 14 December 2012
1 The Parliament of the Republic of
Latvia
Translation © 2022 Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre)