Brick wall bashing in Iowa .....

[heymarky]

I've never ordered death certs from Iowa, but in the states(*) I have ordered from they have 'certified' and 'genelogical' records. If you're trying to claim a piece of the inheritance or something like that, you need a certified copy which required a notarized request form.

Genealogical requests can only be made for records more than N years old (varies from state to state, I remember 75 years from somewhere)

The instructions for ordering vital records are incomprehensible. And it is the same for every state I have ever looked at. They must all use the same template.

(*) my morning coffee hasn't really kicked in yet, so that might just mean Illinois.

Now back to my coffee. My 3-yr-old twin boys are excited about Easter egg hunting, and last year we got there just as it was ending.

[SarahND]

Hi again,
Iowa takes the cake for making things difficult. I have easily ordered death certs from California and Ohio, but in Iowa they seem to be doing all they can to discourage genealogy research. They even have have a note saying that for family history, the wait will be at least 60 days And I'm not talking certified here...

Hurry, don't be late to the egg hunt!
Sarah

[StewL]

Sarah

Radar O'Reilly from M.A.S.H. Oh well funnily I had not long previously been watching an umpteenth re-run on the box, in between ads for another programme When Iowa and said Radar were mentioned often in the storyline
I really must get a life

[heymarky]

I really must get a life

You just need a TiVo.

disclaimer: I work for TiVo

[thistle]

I tried ordering a genealogy death record from Iowa for a great uncle a couple of years ago. I was refused. They told me they only issued certified copies and I wasn't eligible for a certified copy because I wasn't a direct descendant. So far I haven't had any problems ordering records from FL, CA and NY. Then there's my PA experience. I debated a long time whether I even wanted to request a record from them since you have to send a copy of your drivers license for ID. Anyway, I finally did and found out that they use that information to do a formal background check on you. The reason I know that is that the company they used was so incompetent they charged my credit card for it.

[SarahND]

I tried ordering a genealogy death record from Iowa for a great uncle a couple of years ago. I was refused. They told me they only issued certified copies and I wasn't eligible for a certified copy because I wasn't a direct descendant.

If they only issue certified copies, that will explain all the notarization, etc. I certainly hope they don't refuse, because I AM a direct descendant! But they don't ask for proof of that, so how can they know if I'm telling the truth? Hire a genealogist to research my family tree?

The reason I know that is that the company they used was so incompetent they charged my credit card for it.

This is ridiculous! What did you do? Did the PA state government pick up the tab in the end?

Regards,
Sarah

[thistle]

You should be okay if you're a direct descendant, SarahND. I don't know how they would verify it. Maybe I should have claimed he was my great grandfather instead of great uncle. I have all the information on him except his date of death and I was a little curious since he was illegitimate what father the record showed.

I didn't have to pay for the check. When I notified the credit card company of the unauthorized charge on my card, the background check company issued a credit ASAP.

[SarahND]

Maybe I should have claimed he was my great grandfather instead of great uncle.

Maybe you should have! As you say, I don't know how they would prove it one way or the other...
Regards,
Sarah

[Muriel]

Just shows that it's worthwhile reading ALL the posts on TS. I thought I was being really thick when I decided to try to order my gggrandmother's death certificate from Massachusetts. Now I know it ain't just me I think I may give it a miss & hope I'm there one day & can look at it

Muriel

[killearnan]

Just shows that it's worthwhile reading ALL the posts on TS. I thought I was being really thick when I decided to try to order my gggrandmother's death certificate from Massachusetts. Now I know it ain't just me I think I may give it a miss & hope I'm there one day & can look at it
Muriel

Masschusetts is much easier than some of the states you've been reading about.

The big date there is 1850, as there was a drive about 100 years ago to publish all the VRs to then, in a series that are called the tan books. Not all the towns were done then, but fill in work has been done for the other towns, and they are available in many genealogical libraries. I have the CD that includes the books for Essex County, so I can do quick look-ups if I have an idea of the town (as they are listed that way) and date as well as a name.

Many of the records from 1841 (start of required registration, although compliance varied for a couple decades) to 1906 (I think......going from memory) are available on-line via the New England Historic Genealogical Society if you are a member. Even if you aren't a member, if you are going to be in MA, you may be better off going there than the state registry office.

Alternately, if you know the town, it may be easier to contact the town office to get the information. I've always walked in (as my vacations tend to take me in that direction, as I head to here) and I've never had a problem, even in the busy Salem office, but I'm not sure how well a phone call/snail mail letter would work.

BJ
considerably spoiled by her ancestors living in places with better than average records-- mostly in Scotland on one side and Massachusetts on the other.