When I filled out the form for the death certificate (for the first time), I checked off the box that said something to the effect of health reasons. I received a letter back with a form saying that I had to be a direct descendent of this person and I had to sign the form. The reason I did not check off the box that said genealogy, was because I had a hard time when talking on the phone with one of the workers there. For some reason she informed me that they do not issue certificates for purposes of genealogy, so I was careful not to check that box. Anyway, I signed the form and sent it back. They sent me the death certificate and the box was filled with the writing (which I could not read anyway) of the cause of death. From then on, I never bothered with filling out the extra form, but I always receive the "cause of death" box blank. They will send you this form to fill out if you are interested in getting on. There is no extra charge or anything like that. Just verification on your decendency to that person. Susan Seifert Visit Guth Genes web site at http://members.aol.com/guthgenes/gutha.htm Lots of surnames from NY, NJ, Austria, Scotland and France.