Bev, For those who believe birth certificates are more reliable than death certificates, go to an adoption search site...you'll see how birth records can, and are, manipulated to "protect" people. It's amazing what people will go through, and what lies get put on birth certificates, to "cover up" an adoption! Even "original" birth certificates (as opposed to the "amended" ones issued after an adoption is finalized) are often full of misinformation. I've really enjoyed this latest discussion about the reliability and authenticity of records; it's a real eye-opener! Karen