I have had the people at courthouses tell me they didn't have time to "do genealogy" for people but have never had to give that much information. That seems to be another way of saying they don't have time to do genealogy. Don't know about NC but in Texas there are guidelines for the Clerks to follow but they are not mandatory and some of the offices can be so nice and some so rude and unhelpful. Ours in this county are very helpful but next county over......Bad! and like some others say.. some counties won't even let you look. There were many people abusing the records for immigration and other illegal things I am told, that they cut back on public access but most of Texas counties will allow it if you go back a certain number of years and yet it is the most recent marriages and deaths that Rootsweb has on it's site for Texas. Figure that one out! Rose Parks