Local Civil Registrar (LCR) Introduction
The Local Civil Registrar (LCR) is the municipal or city government office responsible for recording and maintaining all civil registry documents — births, marriages, deaths, and other civil status events. The LCR is the first point of contact for registering vital events and processing petitions for corrections, changes, and annotations.
Choose your path
What is the Local Civil Registrar?
- The City or Municipal Civil Registry Office under the LGU — every city and municipality has one.
- Registers births, marriages, and deaths, and processes petitions like correction of errors, change of first name, late registration, legitimation, and annotation.
- After registration, the LCR forwards documents to PSA for the national civil registry database — that's where you get the SECPA-authenticated copies later.
LCR vs. PSA: which office?
LCR registers civil events and processes petitions — file here first. PSA issues SECPA-authenticated copies used for government transactions (and pair with a DFA Apostille for use abroad). The LCR forwards approved registrations to PSA automatically.
Special Services
Civil-registry transactions outside the standard birth / marriage / death registration flow.
- Late Registration of Birth — birth not recorded within 30 days
- Correction of Clerical Error — administrative fix under RA 9048 / RA 10172 (no court order)
- Change of First Name — petition under RA 9048
- Migrant Petition — file at your current LCR, not place of registration
- Affidavit of Legitimation — after subsequent marriage of parents
- Annotation of Civil Registry Documents — court orders, adoption, annulment
Important Reminders
- Registration deadlines differ by event:
- Birth: within 30 days of birth (PD 651)
- Marriage: the solemnizing officer transmits the marriage certificate to the LCR within 15 days of the ceremony (Family Code Art. 23) — this is the officer's duty, not the couple's
- Death: register promptly with the LCR; the burial / disposition permit issued by the LCR depends on this filing
- If a birth was not registered on time, you can still register it later through late registration with supporting documents — there is no permanent disqualification
- After LCR registration, documents are forwarded to PSA for inclusion in the national database (typically 1–3 months)
- LCR-issued copies are on plain paper; PSA copies are on security paper (SECPA)
- Corrections and name changes are filed at the LCR, not directly at PSA
- Bring valid government-issued IDs when transacting at the LCR
- Office hours vary by LGU — check your city or municipal hall for current schedule
LCR Contact Information
Find Your Local Civil Registry Office
Visit your City Hall or Municipal Hall and look for the Office of the Civil Registrar.
The LCR is usually located on the ground floor of the city/municipal hall building.
PSA Civil Registry Service
Hotline: 1388
Email: info@psa.gov.ph
Website: www.psa.gov.ph
Disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. The requirements, steps, fees, and procedures mentioned here may vary depending on the Local Civil Registrar you visit. We recommend visiting your nearest Local Civil Registrar first to confirm the specific requirements and process before preparing your documents.