Courts & Court Records in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia's trial courts are the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the Provincial Court, with the Court of Appeal above them. Decisions are free on CanLII's Nova Scotia collection.
Vital Records: Restricted, With a Genealogy Door
Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia) issues certificates to the person named and close family. Historical registrations are searchable free through Nova Scotia Archives genealogy tools.
Land, Property & Business Records
Land ownership runs through the province's Land Registration system (Property Online), and companies through the Registry of Joint Stock Companies — both linked below.
Records Nobody Publishes
Criminal records are not public anywhere in Canada — checks go through police services with the subject’s consent. For unpublished government records, Nova Scotia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Act gives anyone the right to file an access request with a provincial or municipal body, the provincial cousin of the federal ATIP process described in our Canada Public Records guide.
Verified Resources (7 links)
Nova Scotia Records: Quick Answers
Are Nova Scotia court records public?
Yes — judgments free on CanLII; files by request from the court registry.
Where do I search NS historical births and deaths?
Nova Scotia Archives publishes searchable historical vital statistics free online — one of the more generous provinces for genealogy.
How do I check an NS company?
Search the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, the province's corporate registry.