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Birth Certificates -
How to obtain a certified copy
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Please remember, following these
guidelines can greatly assist you in your search for records!
Make
your letters concise and to the point. Do NOT include more than one or two
requests at once, and be careful not to write confusing details of your family
lines.
Provide
complete information on an individual and event for which you need documents.
Include all names that may have been used, including nicknames, alternate
spellings, etc. List dates and type of event as completely and accurately as
possible. If you don't know the exact date, specify the span of years you wish
searched and be prepared to pay for searches that span several years.
Patience
pays! Unless you already know the # of pages in a deed, or the exact cost of a
document, don't send a specific amount of money in cash or a check. It is
appropriate to send a signed, BLANK check, however, with a notation written,
(preferably in red ink), UNDER the "$__________" line of the check
which states, "Not
to exceed $5.00", or any amount you wish to specify. If
you don't care to do that, you will need to make your first letter a statement
of what records you need and a request for them to send you a statement of
charges. You can then send a check for the exact amount in a second letter.
Always
provide an S.A.S.E., (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope).
County and State offices have limited personnel and are
often swamped with paper work. Genealogical queries are done as a service which
is outside of their realm of responsibility. They ask therefore that you
exercise patience and courtesy in your transactions with their offices.
When
you write for a birth certificate be sure and include
following information:
When
you write for a death record be sure and include
following information:
When
you write for a copy of a marriage license be sure
and include following information: