My two cents on this subject: The State of New Jersey required ID before processing my request for a genealogical copy of a death certificate over 120 years old, even though their own published guidelines say this isn't necessary. They returned my request TWICE before I sent copies of utility bills with the account numbers obliterated (in lieu of my driver's license). So 10 months after my initial request, I received a death certificate from 1880 with the cause of death blacked out as a privacy issue. The wrong death certificate. The name was the same but the other information could hardly have been more different (an infant vs. a 60 year old woman). Then I found the films at LDS with the indexed VR and the causes of death were listed there anyway. Go figure. Rye Township (NY) clerk sent me a death record a couple of years ago and only charged me $10 instead of the fee "mandated by the state". Even verified that they had the record before I send the money. Racine WI will let you look through the VR index books & certificates but you can't make copies. Before they let you in the room you have to show your ID and fill out a form. They were not happy that my address was not correct on my driver's license (California doesn't do corrections on your physical license until you renew) and took much persuading to allow me to do my research anyway. If you want copies you have to order them and they'll mail them to you, no same day service. They also won't take personal checks - money order only. And St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oswego used to let people look at their records but now they don't because someone ripped out whole pages. They have been very helpful looking up records, even searching many years with vague criteria but they are now adamant about not allowing people to touch their books. Personally, I don't blame them. Then you have Missouri, bless them, doing their best to get their older vital records online and available to all. We just have to find out the rules and play by them to get the best results. Although in this day and age, I don't think I'd mail my driver's licence to someone I didn't know. I'd look for some other alternative. Kathi IBSSG New York - Thompson/Crane/Bramm/Fleischer New Jersey - Thompson/Early/Coyle/Hunter Wisconsin - Meissner/Steng/Diem/Zeininger ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.