In a message dated 12/1/02 5:16:36 AM Central Standard Time, KYADAIR-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: << Message Board Post: =EF=BB=BFHi fellow genealogists! I=E2=80=99m a fanatic genealogist just= like you are. This is kind of long, but well worth reading! I have found a way to use FOIA to requ= est records that actually results in getting records! In my every day professional lega= l work I use the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) to acquire records from all areas. The= FOIA is a tool that is available to everyone. The request is free but it can be v= ery confusing. =20 You have to know where to send it, you have to have the right request for= m, a properly worded letter, you have to know what type of information they need to get= you what you are looking for. You cannot just send in a generic "find this" request.= Using the proper request on the proper form with a properly worded letter you will get the= documentation you are seeking. I received 84 pages in the first probate request, two = weeks later, an additional 124 pages. All stuff they copied from microfiche. At $ .10 = per page. Some of these records went back to 1838! I will send you the forms (both Stat= e and Federal), with directions, the request letter, what you need to send them in terms = of specifics, if you have them, or if not, some ideas on where and how to find them. I h= ave charted each State=E2=80=99s statutes and codes that you will need to reformat th= e request form for the State you are sending the request to. For those of us who have been unabl= e to get to an out-of-town location or to afford a researcher it's great. My email i= s genealogyprincess@hotmail.com or klawler@batorberlin.com. Don=E2=80=99t= use the email this posting was sent from. While I have received hundreds of ema= ils from people thanking me for this information, one or two bad apples have manag= ed to keep having my email deactivated. So try to contact me via email if you have= questions, but if it doesn=E2=80=99t work, please know that I am still here and you can = contact me at the snailmail address below or, hopefully, the two email addresses listed abo= ve. I am really sorry for this inconvenience. In fact, if you are interested in= receiving this information, just follow the directions below. I will be glad to help anyone with any additional information or reforma= tting the forms for other states, other data requests, etc. Any other more involv= ed requests for help, I will send a form. I am requesting $6.58 for paper, copying, sta= ples, gas, large envelope and postage costs. These are reimbursement costs. This packag= e of information is 22 pages -- and I had no idea this would be responded to i= n such huge numbers (!!). I wish these darn board administrators understood that! A= nyway, if you=E2=80=99re interested, send $6.58 in cash or check [Kathy Lawler] to = Genealogy Princess, 20757 Camden Square, #210, Lathrup Village, MI 48076 or use my = Paypal [checking] for $7.00 to Genealogyprincess2000@yahoo.com. Either way, d= on=E2=80=99t forget your address!! I will send you the information the very day I receive = your address and funds. Lastly, additional information, new ways I can come up with to u= se FOIA will be sent to you free of charge and I=E2=80=99ll also be happy to answer any q= uestions you may have. Thanks! Kathleen Lawler >> Kathleen, I can't help but think the above note is a form of 'solicitation' and I do believe RootsWeb frowns on that. It states in your welcoming note that we are not to use this forum to ask for moneys for personal gains. One can be bared from the list for doing so. Kat Ps... I sent this to several of your e-mail accounts and it bounced, so I am going to post to the Adair site.... sorry