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Main Forums => Dear Socrateaser => Topic started by: LizaLou1 on Oct 18, 2004, 01:11:14 PM

Title: Death Certificate a Public Record
Post by: LizaLou1 on Oct 18, 2004, 01:11:14 PM
Soc,

I noted your recent post were you said a Death Certificate was a public record.  This implies to me anybody can get a copy.  

A while back I had reason to get a great uncle's death certificate.  The state of Alabama refused me because my relationship was not close enough.  I had to get a notorized request, detailing why it was needed, from another great uncle in order to obtain the record.   Thank goodness Uncle Ed is living (he's 84) or I'd be out of luck uh?

Is it a Alabama thing or is that what you mean by public record?

Thanks  

LizaLou
Title: RE: Death Certificate a Public Record
Post by: socrateaser on Oct 18, 2004, 02:01:51 PM
>Is it a Alabama thing or is that what you mean by public
>record?

Just like with the Federal Freedom of Information Act, the government can make you go through serious hoops in order to gain access to a "public" record. Nevertheless, the record is public. Personally, I think it's a serious breach of our freedoms, and a signpost pointing to tiranny, to impose conditions on access to any but the most sensitive national security documents. But, We the People allow our legislators to set up such obsticles to access, and the result is that we are all less free.
Title: Death Certificate a Public Record
Post by: LizaLou1 on Oct 18, 2004, 01:11:14 PM
Soc,

I noted your recent post were you said a Death Certificate was a public record.  This implies to me anybody can get a copy.  

A while back I had reason to get a great uncle's death certificate.  The state of Alabama refused me because my relationship was not close enough.  I had to get a notorized request, detailing why it was needed, from another great uncle in order to obtain the record.   Thank goodness Uncle Ed is living (he's 84) or I'd be out of luck uh?

Is it a Alabama thing or is that what you mean by public record?

Thanks  

LizaLou
Title: RE: Death Certificate a Public Record
Post by: socrateaser on Oct 18, 2004, 02:01:51 PM
>Is it a Alabama thing or is that what you mean by public
>record?

Just like with the Federal Freedom of Information Act, the government can make you go through serious hoops in order to gain access to a "public" record. Nevertheless, the record is public. Personally, I think it's a serious breach of our freedoms, and a signpost pointing to tiranny, to impose conditions on access to any but the most sensitive national security documents. But, We the People allow our legislators to set up such obsticles to access, and the result is that we are all less free.