PERSONAL  DATA  PROTECTION  LAWS	Back

The use  of  the German  Parish  Registers  from  the  former  eastern  provinces is regulated by  the  new Church Law  for  the  Safeguarding and Use of Church Archives  ("Archival Law") (Kirchengesetz  zur  Sicherung  und  Nutzung  von  kirchlichem  Archivgut,  "Archivgesetz")  of the  Evangelical  Church  of  the  Union of  6  May 2000  [Official  Gazette  of  the  Evangelical Church of Germany 2000, p. 192, (Amtsblatt der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland 2000)] and by  the Regulation  for the Use of  the Church Archival Center Berlin  ("Regulation  gover- ning  the  use  of  Archives")  (Ordnung  für  die  Benutzung  des  Kirchlichen  Archivzentrums Berlin, "Archivbenutzungsordnung") of  9  October  2000.
Parish Registers are subject to the time  limitations contained in personal data protection laws. The following regulations apply:
For baptismal records	90 years (presently until 31 Dec. 1921)
For funeral records	10 years
For marriage records	70 years (presently until 31 Dec. 1941)
For confirmation records	75 years (presently until 31 Dec. 1936)
Parish Registers and  microfiches  that  fall  under  these  time  limitations (after  these  dates) cannot be viewed by the user. However, individual  entries for ancestors in  the direct line can be located  by  the personnel of  the Parish Registry Repository, and  copies  or extracts  may be made by them.