The registration of births, deaths and marriages, performing civil marriages and effecting legitimations. Registration of titles to land and associated documents. At the time of its creation the Department was solely concerned with registration of births, deaths and marriages. In 1972 it was amalgamated with the Lands Titles Department, gaining responsibility for registration of titles and deed. On 15 March 1983 the Department was amalgamated with the Attorney-Generals and Prisons Departments to create the Law Department retaining its identity as a Division of the new Department.--PREVIOUS AGENCY------: The evolution of this Department is complex and has not been fully registered (as at 1991). Responsibility for registration of births, deaths and marriages evolved as follows: 1838-1882 Supreme Court Registry, 1882-1924 Statistical and General Registry Department, 1924-1930 Registration Department, 1930-1934 Operated as a Division of Treasury, 1934-1959 Registration Department in own right again, renamed in 1959. Responsibility for registering deeds and titles to land evolved as follows: 1857-1924 Registry of Deeds Office, 1862-1924 Lands'Titles Office (for land held under the Torrens Title System), 1924-1972 Lands' Titles Department (formed by amalgamation of the above Offices), 1972 - Amalgamated with Registrar-General's Department.;;The Department was also responsible for the administration of the Adoption of Children Acts 1920 and 1960. This responsibility was transferred to the Department of Social Welfare in 1961.