Cumberland County does not allow you behind the counters. I know this does not apply to Lenior but thought I would toss this into the ring in case someone were to drive all this way and get turned down. I live here and I have tried 3 times. Gave up running the county for USGenWeb due to that problem. Montgomery is great about allowing you access. Many counties are turning to this as records get misfiled, walk off, torn, etc. I have had complaints from folks who state that Stanly County is now unable to help with mail in requests for records, with the fees sent, state they do not have time or the manpower but if you go to their office, the do allow you behind the counter. Only counties I have researched in (behind the counters) are Anson, Montgomery, Stanly, Cleveland, Gaston in NC. NY state is impossible, no records at all unless you prove your direct connection. By mail this means that you send your driver's license, birth record, etc. This is supposedly for the safety of the record itself, to keep from someone stealing the deceased's identity but what about the living's data going thru the postal service?? No answer for that when I complained. And if you can't prove direct lineage, and there are no living issue for the deceased, you are out of luck. The record rots in the county offices and the state archives. And it certainly does depend on who is the person who opens your envelopes as to whether they will look up the record. I have met some really helpful folks in these offices and then I have met some really sour ladies. In Cumberland, had I been rich, I would have loved to have told the lady to never mind letting me look at the index to determine which records I would like, just copy each and every SMITH (though I am not researching that surname) record they have in the entire office. I would have loved to have seen her mouth drop but alas, I am not rich. I believe that the records in every office in every state should be accessible to every person. I have no problem at all in being searched as I enter and as I leave if they would begin this practice as I have seen where wills have been cut out of the books and records have been misfiled, but to keep folks from accessing them is wrong. Allowing us behind the counters or not allowing us, I can also understand this, but to not allow us to view an index or to state that they do not have one, (as I have also been told once) is totally off. I have also sent for records only to be told none existed, yet I went there and found them myself. They kept my money of course. :)) I suggest that you state on your next request that you will be coming to their county in the summer to do research but need this particular record before then. Then if you get a "no record exist", keep your copy and if you do get a chance to make it to the county at a later date, and do find the record, then bring it to the attention of the head of the department. Probably will not do you any good, but it will make you feel better at the time. If you continued to have trouble, try contacting the library, many times they have these records on microfilm and for a fee will do lookups. Good luck and excuse the long post. Cathy Cranford-Ailstock [email protected] http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cranford/cathy1.html Listowner for Montgomery County, NC [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "cfuller" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 2:50 PM Subject: Re: [NCWAYNE] REGISTER OF DEEDS > Sylvia, > I have been sending for certificates from > Lenoir,Wayne,Johnston,Franklin,Greene,Wake,Wilson and Granville counties and > Lenoir is the only oneI have a problem with.Just sent for a few certificates from > Lenoir a few weeks ago and did not have a problem!! > Christine > > [email protected] wrote: > > > Christine, > > What they are requesting is for the most part standard procedure. > > However,they could look if they wanted to. I guess it all depends on the > > individual who receives your request. > > If you are surprised by your response, don't go to Wake County. > > The Freedom of Information Act does allow you certain rights. Many of the > > counties in N. C. allow you to come in and search their records. Wake County > > is not one of those counties. You might check to see if Lenoir County will > > allow public access to Birth and Death Certificates. Good Luck! > > Sylvia