Actually, it was illegal for them to send you a certified copy, you don't qualify for one. (See www.nyhealth.gov/vital_records/death.htm) I haven't ordered a VR from Columbia but many counties don't send copies of the original certificate, they copy the basic data from their records onto a computerized form. When I got a copy of my mother's 1920 birth certificate (she was with me) from another county they copied the information from a ledger rather than the original certificate. You can get a copy of the original certificate from the NY State Dept. of Health. They are notoriously slow (many months) in filling mail order requests but fill requests submitted in person in Albany much more promptly. There are researchers who, for a fee, will submit your request in Albany. -----Original Message----- From: smulvey [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 1:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Birth, Death, Marriage Records Hi All, I just requested a death certificate for an ancestor who died in 1915 from the Kinderhook town clerk. I was sent a certified copy that only has her married name and date of death. I just called to say there was no genealogical information, such as; parents names and cause of death. They told me to send another request and she would ask the Board of Health. Have the laws changed? Can I cite the Freedom of Information act to get the information I need? This ancestor is not direct to me, she is my second cousin twice removed. Thanks, Susan ************************************************* "If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance." -- George Bernard Shaw Columbia County, NY Coordinator http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/columbia/