The Bermuda Archives provides the following services to Government Departments under the Bermuda Archives Act 1974:

• Advice and guidance on the establishment and management of current filing systems.
• Establishment of standards for managing public records.
• Development of generic and specific disposition schedules.
• Provision of secure storage facilities and file retrieval services for non-current government records.
• Under Section 12 of the Bermuda Archives Act 1974 public records may not be destroyed without the authority of the Minister responsible for Archives. For further information and advice on the authorized disposition of records please contact your department’s Records Officer at the Bermuda Archives.
• Generic disposition schedules for financial and personnel records may be found in Section 23 of Financial Instructions.

• Spanning almost 400 years, the Bermuda Archives’ holdings consist of the permanent and historic records of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the Bermuda Government, transferred under the authority of the Bermuda Archives Act 1974 and dating from 1615 to the present day. Please note that only records over thirty years old are available for public access.
• The Bermuda Archives also collects private papers relating to Bermuda, which are donated by private organizations, institutions and members of the public. Many of these collections support genealogical research and include the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian church registers as well as records of the Parish Vestries.
• Holdings and collections at the Bermuda Archives comprise a variety of formats, including paper records, original manuscripts, maps, plans, charts, photographs, documentary art, video and sound recordings.
• The Bermuda Archives does not hold the civil records of births, deaths and marriages. For births, deaths and marriages from 1866, please contact the Registry General.
• The Bermuda Archives holds probated wills from 1618 to 1974. For probated wills dated after 1974, please contact the Registry of the Supreme Court.
  

• The Bermuda Archives regrets that it is unable to undertake significant research for the public. For extensive enquiries we can recommend the services of local professional researchers.
• The Bermuda Archives will answer basic reference enquires by post. We can spend up to 30 minutes attempting to identify or verify relevant archives and if possible supply you with information from these records.
• Your enquiry should include specific names, places, dates and references and you should nominate the type of information you are seeking.
   

• The Bermuda Archives provides Reading Room access, under supervision, to unique collections of original archival documents, maps, plans, photographs, sound and video recordings as well as documentary art. Readers will be required to register prior to beginning their research.
• The Bermuda Archives staff offers guidance in the use of its specialized finding aids, catalogues and indexes. 
• For the protection of the collections handling guidelines must be conscientiously followed. Pens, photographic cameras, optical scanners, tape recorders and other types of duplication equipment are not permitted in the Reading Room. The use of laptop computers is encouraged and pencils are provided.
• Photocopies and microfilm copies of archival documents are available upon request. For photographic duplication orders please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. (Fees will apply.)
• Certified copies of public and judicial records may be obtained for legal purposes.