Hello all, I have read most of the Emails about "unfriendly state"! My 2 cents worth of reply is: Some readers did sympathize with the Texas lady, some castigated her for lack of knowledge. I read the original Email and think I understand her thinking--a 32 cent stamp is cheaper than a $2. phone call. She may not have known where to call!! She sent the forms etc BUT TO THE WRONG PLACE. I have found that ALL aspects of local genealogy was userped by the STATE OFFICES years ago! Here in our little county, births, deaths, marriage etc are sent to the STATE offices. Birth, marriage and death notices are found in local newspapers But these are NOT certified records! I can see that the State needs this information for consolidating records and take a load off county staff. They (staff) now have more to do than was necessary 30 years ago. The Lady said she sent, resent, resent her request several times. The first handler of the request was inept or something. A phone call or two of the handler should have located JUST where the forms need to go. Since the sender had paid postage to deliver the forms, the handler could have re addressed the mail to the proper destination. I sympathize with the Texas lady. To others: request Birth, death certificates (certified) from State Capitol offices. I dont know why this information is in "HEALTH ___ offices" ?? Howard Tidwell