Does anyone on the list know how death certificates are filed? Are they filed by date or surname? I have requested two death certificates from St. Clair County Court House several times and each time I receive a negative answer. I have given them the exact death dates and several variations of the surname spelling. Appreciate any information on this subject. Thank you for your assistance. Edna in Arizona
Deaths after 1916 are computerized and searched by surname. Prior to 1916 the deaths are in the process of being computerized. Since a large majority are not in the computer, a computer search could turn up negative. Death certificates were not required to be filed before 1916 and only reached about 90% compliance by then. Certificates were kept after Dec 1877 however. In other words, before 1916 you could have a good date but no record filed. Likewise, the person entering the information into the computer might misread the name--although a date search should help them find it. The best way to assure they have the record pre-1916 is to use the death register index on film at the Belleville Library - it gives a book and page and the register is also there on film. This way you will know how the surname is spelled on the certificate (and hopefully how the clerk read it for computer entry). After 1916 use the microfiche index (statewide) through 1947, also at the BPL. Diane ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edna" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 8:27 AM Subject: [ILSTCLAI] Death Certificates > Does anyone on the list know how death certificates are filed? Are > they filed by date or surname? > > I have requested two death certificates from St. Clair County Court > House several times and each time I receive a negative answer. I have > given them the exact death dates and several variations of the surname > spelling. > > Appreciate any information on this subject. Thank you for your > assistance. > > Edna in Arizona > > > >
Deaths after 1916 are computerized and searched by surname. Prior to 1916 the deaths are in the process of being computerized. Since a large majority are not in the computer, a computer search could turn up negative. Death certificates were not required to be filed before 1916 and only reached about 90% compliance by then. Certificates were kept after Dec 1877 however. In other words, before 1916 you could have a good date but no record filed. Likewise, the person entering the information into the computer might misread the name--although a date search should help them find it. The best way to assure they have the record pre-1916 is to use the death register index on film at the Belleville Library - it gives a book and page and the register is also there on film. This way you will know how the surname is spelled on the certificate (and hopefully how the clerk read it for computer entry). After 1916 use the microfiche index (statewide) through 1947, also at the BPL. Diane ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edna" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 8:27 AM Subject: [ILSTCLAI] Death Certificates > Does anyone on the list know how death certificates are filed? Are > they filed by date or surname? > > I have requested two death certificates from St. Clair County Court > House several times and each time I receive a negative answer. I have > given them the exact death dates and several variations of the surname > spelling. > > Appreciate any information on this subject. Thank you for your > assistance. > > Edna in Arizona > > > >