Jon... It's faster and more reliable to go in person. It takes about an hour, sometimes less. Depends on how many are there at the time. Death certificates are $12. San Francisco Public Health doesn't require the State file #; as a matter of fact, they get riled if it's used! Good luck... Barb Jon asked: > Is it faster or more reliable to go in person to the SF Dept. of> Health to request this record? That's one reason for my request here> -- to ask if someone could physically go there (maybe as part of other> research they are doing) to ask for the record. _________________________________________________________________ The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i’m Talkathon. http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_SeasonOfGiving