Hi Jeanette, Usually, proof of relationship is not required as most of the information at the court house is supposed to fall under the "Freedom of Information Act" unless protected by a higher law (adoption and some divorces and marriages). I, personally, ran into the same situation while trying to get a death certificate from Arizona. I copied my family group sheets and sent a copy of my drivers license to prove who I am. When I originally wrote and requested a copy, they sent me a letter with a form to fill out that stated I had to prove who I was. They accepted the group sheet, etc. NORMALLY, they want to know the relationship and do not ask for proof. Arizona was the only instance for me, but I know others have had similar requests from other areas. Have a great day and lots of luck in your research. Connie Latta

Connie I tried to get the death certificate of my grand aunt who died in Virginia in 1992. I sent my check and said it was for genealogy reasons. They would not issue it to me unless I was immediate family. Their state law is no public death certificates until 50 years after the death. Isn't that ridiculous? Steve Winget On Friday, June 29, 2001, at 07:30 AM, Angeluss@aol.com wrote: > Hi Jeanette, > > Usually, proof of relationship is not required as most of the > information at > the court house is supposed to fall under the "Freedom of Information > Act" > unless protected by a higher law (adoption and some divorces and > marriages). > > I, personally, ran into the same situation while trying to get a death > certificate from Arizona. I copied my family group sheets and sent a > copy of > my drivers license to prove who I am. When I originally wrote and > requested > a copy, they sent me a letter with a form to fill out that stated I had > to > prove who I was. They accepted the group sheet, etc. > NORMALLY, they want to know the relationship and do not ask for proof. > Arizona was the only instance for me, but I know others have had similar > requests from other areas.