Courts & Court Records in Quebec
Quebec is Canada's civil-law province, and its court structure reflects it: the Court of Québec and the Superior Court of Québec handle trials, with the Court of Appeal above them. Judgments are free on CanLII's Quebec collection (in French and often English); court rolls and case information run through the Justice Québec services linked below.
Vital Records: Restricted, With a Genealogy Door
The Directeur de l'état civil is Quebec's single civil-status authority, issuing birth, death, and marriage certificates to the person named and close family — a more centralized model than any other province. Historical registers open through the BAnQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec).
Land, Property & Business Records
Quebec's land records run through the Registre foncier (land register), and companies through the Registraire des entreprises (REQ), the province's enterprise register — both official systems 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 For unpublished government records, Quebec’s Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies gives anyone the right to file an access request with a provincial or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 (9 links)
Quebec Records: Quick Answers
Is Quebec's legal system different from the rest of Canada?
Yes — Quebec uses civil law for private matters (contracts, property, family) while criminal law remains federal. Court decisions are still public and free on CanLII.
Who issues Quebec birth certificates?
The Directeur de l'état civil, only to the person named and close family.
How do I check a Quebec company?
Search the REQ (Registraire des entreprises), Quebec's official enterprise register.