Thanks for the great idea. I have a very inexpensive digital camera but have been thinking of getting a good one to do cemetery work. What type of specifications do I need to get in a camera that would allow me to take an image of a document and have it readable at home? Any other photo tips? I have recently been told that I could not make copies of an index althougth I am not sure why as they are putting all the indices online in that county and I can go to the local gen library and makes copies of the index from microfilm. Most people don't want the index so it is generally not an issue, I guess laura ----- Original Message ----- From: "David French" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 5:34 AM Subject: [NCLENOIR] Copy Fees at Register of Deeds Office > Hi All, > > One way to possibly get around the $1.00 fee is to take your digital camera and take a picture of the > record. I know I have done this throughout the South with almost no problem. You can then do a printout of > the record at home on your printer for much less than $1.00 or just store it on your computer or CD-ROM. > > They are public records and it is my understanding that they cannot refuse them being copied by whatever > means as long as it does not harm the original record. If there is ever a question if a picture of the > records can be made, I ask to speak to the Register of Deeds of the county and ask to see a copy of the law > where it says a digital copy cannot be made. The records are not owned by the individual counties, they are > owned by the People at large. > > With the advances in technology, some counties are digitizing all of their records and making them available > online in some instances. In a few years, I think this will greatly assist researchers who may not be able > to travel or cannot afford to hire a researcher to find information on their families. > > David > > >