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Archiver > MIWASHTE > 2002-03 > 1015694663


From: "Ross Malone" <>
Subject: Re: [MIWASHTE] Outrageous cost of Washtenaw death records
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 2002 11:24:23 -0600
References: <20020309143510.79503.qmail@web12907.mail.yahoo.com>


Hello, Mary and List

I can understand how county employees and others feel about being
overburdened with requests which are basically for a person's hobby. Each
locality seems to set its own priorities and these are reflected in fees
charged. I think that Ron was right on the money and the officers are
letting folks know where their priorities lie.

On the other hand there are often alternative sources in place before a
county office raises fees. If they deliver only certified copies, there may
be microfilm copies available at a local library or historical society. The
county where I live is along the Missouri River and was a major point for
early German immigration. The county employees just can't keep up with the
demands of genealogists. As a result they are about 1/3 of the way through
a project to put all appropriate records on line so they will be available
free of charge via the internet.

$13.00 sure sounds high but there may be an alternative. I'm the
historian for my church and we have death and burial records from the
earliest days of settlement in this area. I love to help people and I'm
sure other church historians do also. Even churches which have closed
usually leave their records with a local conference, seminary, or library.
In most cases church records predate county records by decades. Best wishes
and good luck in your research.

Ross Malone


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Henderson" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2002 8:35 AM
Subject: [MIWASHTE] Outrageous cost of Washtenaw death records


> Hi!
>
> I've just recently learned that Washtenaw County
> charges $13 for a certified death certicate, and
> doesn't provide uncertified copies, and apparently
> won't let you just look at the record and hand write
> the info. Is it just me, or do others think this is
> outrageously expensive?
>
> I don't have any roots in Washtenaw County, but since
> I live here, I thought I'd subscribe to this list and
> occasionally try to help people that are doing
> research here. I have a lot of ties to Ohio, though,
> and there I can get birth, death and marriage records
> for $.03 each from the Ohio Dept. of Health, if I'm
> willing to wait up to 6 months. And if I want to be
> extravagant and get the records in 2-4 weeks, I pay $1
> through the State Historical Society.
>
> Michiganders have a friendly competitive streak
> towards Ohioans; why is it Michigan can't manage to
> compete when it comes to helping genealogists get
> vital records ;-)
>
> Although, having said that, Jackson County, which is
> one county west of Washtenaw County, will give
> uncertified copies of death certificates for $.50.
> How is it that one county will charge $.50 and another
> county will charge $13 for the same thing?
>
> I'd love to get others thoughts on this.
>
> Mary
>
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