My mother called a county in Georgia to see if she could get

[boston bean]

a death certificate of my gggrandmother.

They told her they could not longer mail out death certificates due to a new Homeland Security law.

Anyone else hear of this.

Thanks!

[Donnachaidh]

1. I've never heard of that.

That's going to piss off a LOT of genealogists. What county was this in?

[boston bean]

2. Either Gilmer or Union I believe or possibly Whitfield. I think Whitfield. nt

[madfloridian]

3. I do a lot of genealogical research...

But I have not sent for such info in a few years. I heard this would happen, and I thnk it started about the time of the war.

[boston bean]

6. She has gotten other death certificates for people who died even later

from georgie in recent years. So this is something new to her.

[karlrschneider]

4. Somebody is lying to your mom.

...

[boston bean]

5. Maybe, but that IS what they told her. nt

[karlrschneider]

13. Well, there must be more to the story. It's a public record and counties are

obliged to provide them. Maybe there's some disagreement or misunderstanding about a fee they're requesting?

[boston bean]

14. Karl, we have done this many times. There is no misunderstanding

we know how to go about getting them. This is what they told her.

[madfloridian]

19. Rules were changed about death ceritificates after 9/11

It did not get much publicity...but then what did?

I have some stuff about it, but I have to dig. They feared terrorists might take the identity.

I don't know the answer, but it was being attempted several years ago...the effort to close the records.

[karlrschneider]

26. I dunno...see post 25

strange...

[ellenfl]

23. actually, death certificates are not usually in the public records.

however, i can't see how they can refuse to provide one to a direct descendant. maybe the method of ordering one has changed pursuant to dhs. you can still get them in florida if you have standing.

ellen fl

[karlrschneider]

25. Well it must vary by states. 2 years ago my mom's companion died and I got 3 copies

(certified) of the DC with no problem...he was not related to us in any way. I think they charged me 5 bucks apiece or something like that...

[LaurenG]

7. I hope that isn't true

Otherwise genealogists will be "screwn" big time. My husband just got his great grandfathers death certificate from an Indiana county a few months ago though.

[boston bean]

11. Well, that is what I thought, but that is what they told her. Whether

it is something that was in the works and they just started, I don't know.

I know a lot of geneaologists are gonna be irate though, if this is the way things are going.

[Suich]

8. What in the world does a death certificate

have to do with Homeland Security?

:shrug:

[unsavedtrash]

9. Not sure about death certificates but my county won't mail copies of birth certificates

which is odd since when I went to get a copy no one asked for identification. Just a short application and twelve dollars.

[Garbo 2004]

10. Contact Georgia state vital records office. See info on their page:

http://health.state.ga.us/programs/vitalrecords/death.asp

[boston bean]

12. Well, therein lies the problem. My gggrandmother died between

1905 and 1910 so We are now not allowed to get the certificate.

We have in the past gotten death certificates for people who died later.

edit to add We have gotten dc for relatives who have died later and my mother did call where you suggested and they told her to call the county who told her they could not give dc to people who died earlier.

I hope that makes sense. I have had two drinks.

[Garbo 2004]

17. Well then perhaps the county can tell your mom the statute or regulation

that prohibits them from sending out death certificates, since their state has no such prohibition against mailing out certificates for deaths after 1918.

Can they cite any law or reg or authority that prohibits them from mailing a 1905-1910 certificate that also exempts the state of Georgia for post 1918 death certificates? If they cannot provide the info regarding a law/reg they claim as their authority for their procedures, follow up with local/state gov't.

If they cite Fed Dept of Homeland Security, then any such federal law would apply nationwide and there appears to be no such limitation in California, for example.

[Donnachaidh]

18. I wonder why it stops at 1919?

Surely there is a reason for this date -- other states may have cut off points due to fires or floods. But 1919 is recent in genealogical terms.

This just stinks to high heaven.

[Garbo 2004]

21. The state just doesn't have death certs prior to 1919 according to their FAQ:

http://health.state.ga.us/programs/vitalrecords/faq.asp

For what time period are vital records available?
At the state birth and death records are available from 1919 to the present, and marriage applications and licenses from 1952 to 1996. No divorce records are on file at the state office. However, an index of divorce events 1952 to present is available. Some counties may have older birth, death, marriage or divorce records in their files. County Vital Records Offices may be contacted directly.

[rox63]

22. I've had to go to the state archives here in Mass to get some older records n/t

[Nay]

15. That's BS. I recently got a number of death certificates of relatives

for my genealogical research, and no one said anything like that. Sounds like you got a lazy clerk.

[boston bean]

16. did they die before 1919? nt

[northzax]

20. they are wrong

the State Department of Health will issue Death Certificates after 1919. before then (when, I assume, the State started to collect them) it is up to the county. there is no homeland security regulation concerning the issuing of copies of death certificates. I know this is what they told your mom, and what she told you, but it simply isn't the truth.

[Bitwit1234]

24. Virginia was ridiculous

I sent away a request to see if they could locate the death certificate or a record of the death of my great grandfather. I got a letter back saying because of new regulations (they did not mention HS)I could not get a death certificate unless the person's mother or father sent a letter requesting it.

I wrote back, "I would be glad to give you the parents consent but since they were both born around 1778 and had been dead for over 200 years that was impossible." Of course after that they told me they couldn't eveN find a record of him. But I am sure it was because of the answer I sent.