In a message dated 11/17/2004 8:00:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, MIOAKLAN-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: "Karen Ansley Krugman" Karen@miprofgenie.com Christie, I think the death certificate is more to ascertain that the person on the probate file and the person on the death certificate are the same person. I know its crazy, but to be honest I've yet to fully understand the probate department at the Oakland County courthouse. The probate files that are in Oakland county are all on Microfilm and they have ONE yes count it, ONE microfilm copier/reader, so at times it can be tough to get what you want copied. Karen Matching a death certificate to a probate file does not make any sense to me. The reason I say this is that while the names could match, what happens when you are dealing with an ancillary probate. That is, a probate that is done because the decedent happened to have property in that county, but didn't live there. How is a death certificate, in those cases, going to prove you are talking about the same person, particularly if the death occurred in say Florida because that is where the person actually resided at time of death? For those of you who are unfamiliar with probate law, an ancillary probate comes into play when a person lives in another state, dies in another state, but owns property in Oakland county (or in any county in Michigan). The original probate is filed in the state of residence, let's say Florida. A death certificate is issued by the State of Florida. During the probate proceedings, it is learned that the decedent also owned a home or property in Michigan. An ancillary probate is opened in Michigan to handle the distribution of that property located in the state of Michigan. Whether this particular probate method was applicable back in the late 1800s, early 1900s, I don't know. Another question. If you are asking for a probate that occurred right around the time vital records were beginning how in the heck can the court expect you to produce a death certificate for these old records? Has the court provided any kind of inkling as to this question? Are they only asking for death certificates for those deaths that have occurred since 2001? Or are they asking for certs for any and all probates since 1867? Christie Trapp