Ambassade et consulats des
États-Unis d’Amérique en France

French Birth certificates

For persons born in France: some cities allow you to order a birth certificate online. Please refer to: https://mdel.mon.service-public.fr/acte-etat-civil.html. Otherwise, a birth certificate may be obtained from the Office of the Mayor (La Mairie) at the place of birth. Address a request for this document in the following format. The request should be in French.

Example:
Monsieur le Maire
Bureau de l’Etat-Civil EXAMPLE
Mairie de Boulogne sur Mer
62200 Boulogne sur Mer, France

For French nationals born in a foreign country:
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères
Direction des Français à l’Etranger
Service Central de l’Etat-Civil
11, rue Maison Blanche, 44000 Nantes
Tel: 0826 080 604 (from the U.S. tel: 011 33 1 41 86 42 47)
Fax: 02.51.77.36.99

Requests for a birth certificate in either case, A or B above, must include:
(a) The applicant’s full name at the time of birth;
(b) The date and place of birth;
(c) Father’s full name;
(d) Mother’s full name at the time of the applicant’s birth, including maiden name.
The request must be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. There is no charge for a copy of a birth certificate. For more information in French please see http://www.service-public.fr/

French Death Certificates

Copies of French death certificates: some cities allow you to order a death certificate online. Please refer to: https://mdel.mon.service-public.fr/acte-etat-civil.html
Otherwise, death certificates may be obtained from the Office of the Mayor (La Mairie) where the death occurred. The request must include:

•  the full name of the deceased;
• and the date and place where the death occurred.

The request must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. There is no charge for a copy of a death certificate.able for military service in France.

French Marriage certificate (acte de mariage)

Copies of French marriage certificates: some cities allow you to order a marriage certificate online. Please refer to: https://mdel.mon.service-public.fr/acte-etat-civil.html.

Otherwise, marriage certificates may be obtained from the Office of the Mayor (La Mairie) of the town where the marriage took place.
The request must include:

•  The date and place of the marriage;
• The full names of the two persons involved.

The request must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. There is no charge for a copy of a marriage certificate.

“Livret de Famille” (if this document was not issued at a French Consulate abroad) :

Ministère des Affaires Etrangères
Direction des Français à l’ Etranger
Service Central de l’Etat-Civil
11, rue Maison Blanche
44000 Nantes Cedex 9
Tel: 02 51 77 30 30 /38 40
Fax: 02 51 77 36 99

Divorce documents

Please refer to this Department of State website divorce abroad  page for more information.

The Embassy does not have a legal office that can advise on this matter.  However, you may consult an English speaking attorney. A list of English-speaking attorneys practicing in France, who might be able to assist you in resolving this matter can be found on the Embassy’s webpage.

If you need a copy of a U.S. divorce decree please refer to this website .

Criminal History − Police record (extrait de casier judiciaire)

You will need to request a French police record called an “extrait de casier judiciaire” which may only be obtained by the applicant him or herself, in writing to the proper authority in France. Please see https://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20 to download an application form.

Records of criminal conviction can be obtained by any person, regardless of nationality, who has resided in France at any time after the age of 15 years. They may be obtained in writing to the following address:
Casier Judiciaire National
107 rue du Landreau
F-44317 NANTES CEDEX 3
Tel: 02 51 89 89 51

For urgent requests from the U.S. you may send a fax to: 011 33 2 51 89 89 18, or from France at fax number: 02 51 89 89 18. The request should be in French (see application form at https://www.cjn.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/b3/eje20 and must include:

•  The applicant’s full name, and any other names (including maiden) by which he or she has been known;
• the date and place of birth;
• a photocopy of your U.S. birth certificate;
• current address.

There is no charge for a copy of a Police Record.

Record of Criminal Conviction: copies of any criminal judgments against you are included in the Police Record (Casier Judiciaire.)

Military Records

Military records for the Army and the Air Force (Certificat de Position Militaire) and for the Navy (Etat Signalétique des Services) are available to all male French citizens who have attained the age of majority, whether or not military service has been performed.

Military records for the Army are obtained from:
Direction du Personnel Militaire de l’Armée de Terre
14 Rue St. Dominique
75997 Paris Armées

Military records for the Air Force are obtained from:
Direction du Personnel Militaire de l’Armée de l’Air
26, Boulevard Victor
75996 Paris

Military records for the Navy are obtained from:
Direction du Personnel Militaire de la Marine
2 Rue Royale
75200 Paris Naval

There is no charge for a copy of a military record.