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Archiver > APG > 1999-02 > 0918587623


From: Rebecca Rector <>
Subject: Privacy & NY vital records
Date: Tue, 09 Feb 1999 11:13:43 -0800


Hi - I work in NY and I'm curious as to the reason for NY State's privacy
laws regarding vital records (50 years; 75 for births). I had gone down to
retrieve a death record for a client (from 1960's) with a notarized letter
from him giving me permission to get it. But I didn't understand that
NOBODY can get these records, unless the person is a *direct* descendant of
the deceased. One of the clerks said something about "there's so much
fraud, you know".

I'm just curious - why does NY (and other states?) have such restrictive
laws re: vital records? What kind of fraud are they talking about? Thanks
for educating me.

Rebecca Rector
Troy, NY

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