One Hundred Years of Civil Status Procedures in Valga

On July 1, 1926, the first Family Law of the Republic of Estonia came into force, under which civil registry officials also began working in Valga. Their official duty became the secular registration of births, marriages, and deaths.

Since the time of Swedish rule, keeping records of births, marriages, and deaths was the responsibility of the church. The need to change the existing system began to emerge already in the mid-19th century during the period when the relatively popular Orthodox faith was being adopted in Southern Estonia. The development of the Valga railway junction and the large influx of new settlers to the town at the beginning of the 20th century further highlighted the need for a secular population register. As a result, rural municipalities and towns, in addition to the Lutheran church, increasingly took on the task of maintaining a population register. Initially, keeping the population register was the responsibility of the secretaries of the rural municipalities and towns.

Developments were also influenced by the events of the First World War, the Russian revolutions, and the War of Independence, which led to the emergence of the independent states of Estonia and Latvia. In Valga, the organisation of registry keeping remained based for several years on the Law on Freedom of Conscience adopted during Kerensky's rule in 1917, although the Estonian Constituent Assembly was already trying to adopt a family law in 1920.

Over the past hundred years, civil registration in Valga has mainly taken place in the historic Valga Town Hall building. Therefore, on July 1, 2026, at 16:00, the event 100 Years of Civil Registration in Valga will be held in Valga Town Hall, where long-time civil registrar Anne Puller will share her memories. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore Valga Town Hall, its hall, and the rooms associated with registration starting from 14:00.

From June 26 to July 19, an exhibition will be open in the foyer of Valga Museum, displaying historical register document forms, silver and golden wedding albums, and other relevant artifacts.