Re the obtaining of information from Italy, my (Italian) husband explains it thus: Italy is divided into provinces (provincie) similar to our Counties. Each province is divided into comunes (comuni) similar to our Boroughs. Each comune is divided into 'frazioni' similar to our villages and hamlets. In every comune (Borough) there is an office called an 'Ufficio Anagrafe' where all the details of its citizens born within the Borough are registered - births, marriages, divorces, deaths. It is also registered there if a citizen moves to another Borough or emigrates. All his/her details continue to be registered at this same office even if he/she has moved to another part of Italy. This system has been in force since around 1861, when Italy became a Kingdom. Before that date, details were kept with the parish records with the local parish priest. In theory the Ufficio Anagrafe should reply to requests, and the ones in larger towns (such as Como) in the north of Italy are very competent and conscientious, replying within days, but in smaller places down in the south this may not be the case and a reply may not even be forthcoming ! Geraldine Gasparelli ([email protected])