Hi, I want to thank everyone who sent me information on the mental institutions around Charleston. I dont know if they will release the information to me or not, but Im going to give it a try. My problem is I have a cousin who passed away in one there in Charleston either in the late 1970"s or early 80"s we always thought he was my mothers cousin, but now I have been told that he was the illigitimate brother of my mother. Since I do not know the exact date of his death I cannot file for a death certificate.and there are no other living family memebers there to help me. I was hoping maybe to be able to get these records and get some help from them. Everyone says I will need proof of relationship and I dont have anything , I know that I did have a hard time getting records on my husbands ggrandfather from an Indiana institution. We finally got them only after paying the State of Indiana $50.00 and sending copies of my husbands drivers license and birth certificate. So if anyone has any other ideas that might help I would appreciate it. and thanks again for everyones help. Laura