Hi Bev, Your statements are only partially correct. When the health department started entering information, they did not complete the field "mother's maiden name". Later, after MANY death certs had already become part of the database, the field was filled in. This means many death certs WILL have that information, despite the index showing they don't. Unfortunately, NOT all the people who died in Minnesota appear on the index. And those that do may contain errors, either on the original document or in the transcription process. Some death certificates were simply missed. Some have such terrible penmanship, the transcriber couldn't begin to guess the correct spelling of the decedent's name. But more importantly, the index tells only part of the story. If you want to climb your family tree, you'll want to step on complete branches. (My web site details the information that may be found on a death certificate.) If saving money is an issue, I'd get certificates for my direct line and obits for the direct and collateral lines. However, it's been my experience that there are often wonderful surprises waiting to be discovered on the most unlikely death certificates. Just another limb, Laura search for fallen leaves at http://home.attbi.com/~branchingout ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 8:07 PM Subject: [MNHENNEP] Re: MNHENNEP-D Digest V03 #103 Re MN death certificates. Simply go to the MHS Death certificate index. Put the name in and click okay. If the person died in Minnesota the name will come up... I have found the mothers maiden name, county of birth and birth dates. The information is there only if it was given by someone. Print it out. If you don't see on the web site, you won't see it on the official death certifcate, and it won't cost you anything. Bev