Peace Courts are single-person judicial bodies located in small or medium-sized municipalities that do not have their own Civil Registry. Dependent on the Ministry of Justice and coordinated by the judge of first instance of the corresponding judicial district, they act as delegated civil registries in their locality. Births, civil marriages, deaths and other vital events occurring in the municipality are registered there. For remote procedures without travelling to the town, it is recommended to use the services of specialised agencies, which manage the application directly with the corresponding Peace Court professionally and securely.

Main functions of Peace Courts as a civil registry

• Immediate registration of vital events: Registers births (in hospitals or at home), civil marriages celebrated by the mayor or justice of the peace, and deaths in the municipality.
• Issuance of local certificates: Issues official documents for events registered in its registry book, valid throughout Spain.
• Celebration of civil marriages: The justice of the peace or the mayor can officiate weddings at the town hall, with automatic registration.
• Management of records and entries: Maintains family record books and issues literal copies or extracts.
• Referral to the main civil registry: Sends copies of registrations to the civil registry of the judicial district for central archiving.

Certificates obtainable from a Peace Court

Peace Courts issue certificates only for events that occurred in their municipality from 1870 onwards. They are identical in validity to those from the civil registry. The main ones are:

• Birth certificate: Certifies birth in the municipality, with date, time, place and parentage. Necessary for DNI, passports or schooling.
• Marriage certificate: Registers civil marriages celebrated before the justice of the peace or mayor, with details of spouses and witnesses.
• Death certificate: Confirms death in the municipality, with date, place and medical cause if applicable. Required for burial, inheritance or insurance.
• Literal certificate: Complete copy of the original registration (birth, marriage or death).
• Certificate of marital status: Proves current status (single, married, widowed) for marriage procedures.
• Certificate of last will and testament and death insurance: Manageable as an additional procedure if the death is registered locally.

For international use, an application can be made for Hague apostille through the agency, even if the document first passes through the civil registry of the district.

How to obtain them through an agency

Specialised agencies contact the municipal Peace Court directly, manage the application and send the certificate by registered post. Ideal for people who live outside the town or wish to avoid travel. No electronic signature or software required.

General prerequisites

• Details of the registered person: Full name, exact date and municipality of the event, references (family record book, volume/folio if known).
• Applicant identification: DNI, NIE or passport.
• Delivery address: For receipt by registered post.
• Signature on the form for remote authorisation.

Associated costs (approximate, via agency)

• Base fee per certificate: €55.00 (VAT included).
• Additional copies: €5 (second), €10 (third).
• Hague Apostille: €25.
• Last will and testament or death insurance: €25 each.
• Maximum priority: €35.
• Shipping: Variable depending on destination (national/international).

The total is shown before payment, with full transparency.

Links to apply for certificates at the agency

Indicate the name of the municipality in the form; the agency will locate the corresponding Peace Court:

• Birth certificate: https://www.registrocivil.es/en/application-for-birth-certificate/
• Marriage certificate: https://www.registrocivil.es/en/application-for-marriage-certificate/
• Death certificate: https://www.registrocivil.es/en/application-for-certificate-of-death/

Other ways to obtain the certificate

If you prefer to manage the process yourself instead of using a private agency, you can obtain birth, marriage or death certificates free of charge through official channels. As these are delegated registries in small municipalities, the procedure has some specific options.

1. In-person application at the Peace Court

This is the most common way to obtain the document if you are in the locality where the event occurred. Peace Courts are usually located in the same town hall building or in nearby municipal offices.

• Procedure: You must attend with your DNI and, if possible, your Family Record Book. As these are offices with a smaller workload than those in capital cities, service is usually direct, although it is essential to check office hours (usually mornings only).
• Delivery: In many cases, if the record is in the court's physical books, the judicial secretary can issue the certificate immediately or within 24 to 48 hours.

2. Online application (Electronic Headquarters)

Even if the event is registered in a small municipality, you can initiate the request through the Electronic Headquarters of the Ministry of Justice.

• Without digital certificate: You must fill in the application form clearly indicating the name of the municipality. The system will forward the request to the corresponding Peace Court. Once processed, the court will send the certificate by ordinary postal mail to your address.
• Digital limitation: It is important to know that most Peace Courts do not allow immediate download with a digital certificate, as their historical books are usually physical and require a manual search by staff.

3. Registry assistance from another municipality

This is a very useful option if you live far from the town where the event was registered. You can go to the civil registry or Peace Court of your current domicile.

• How it works: Solicitas el certificado allí mismo mediante el procedimiento de “auxilio registral”. Tu juzgado local se pondrá en contacto con el juzgado de paz de origen para pedir el documento. Una vez que lo reciban, te avisarán para que pases a recogerlo físicamente.

4. Application by postal mail

You can send a letter addressed to the Peace Court of the corresponding municipality. In the envelope you must include:

• A letter with your personal details, delivery address and a contact telephone number.
• The exact details of the event (name of the registered person, date and type of certificate).
• A photocopy of your DNI or passport.