Now where the heck did I find that?

Last week I mentioned official documents as a source of proof for your genealogy research. Included in these documents would be what we call "vital records;" that is, birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Every state keeps these records, although the date the record-keeping began varies from state to state.

I received a recent E-mail on this topic from Dorothy Goodwin, whose phone number indicates she is local and lives in the North Fayette County/Fairburn/Union City area. Dorothy wants to put a marker on her relative's grave but doesn't know the exact date of birth or death. Dorothy writes:

"Hi, I've just become acquainted with your column. I need some guidance. I had an aunt who's buried at New Hope in Fayetteville. She was born sometime in l917, and died August(?) l921. I would like to place a marker at her grave, and I don't know how to proceed to find the dates needed. Her name was Evelyn Jeanette Turner, and the family lived in Fayette County mostly. Can you direct me and is there ANY way other than going downtown to the Georgia archives? Thanks for being there for us.

"Dorothy Goodwin, river6@bellsouth.net"

No, Dorothy, you don't have to go to the Georgia Archives to find the information. Vital records information is easily obtainable but may take a little time ... and money.

Marriage records may be found in the courthouse at the county seat where the event occurred. You can also find marriage records on microfilm in public libraries, genealogical libraries and by ordering them from your local LDS Family History Center.

While some death certificates also are available on microfilm, I have not had much success ordering them from the LDS center, since pinpointing the date and the county have led me down several wrong paths. After spending $3.50 per film and still not finding the correct one, I gave up and ordered it directly from Alabama. Don't get me wrong ... I have found the FHC very valuable in obtaining other out-of-state records. I just can't seem to zoom in on the right death record source.

The best way to order birth and/or death certificates is directly from the source the Department of Health and Human Services or whatever it is called in the state you need the record from. In Georgia, the agency is called the State Department of Human Resources, 47 Trinity Ave., SW, Room 217-H, Atlanta, GA 30334. You may also phone (404-679-4701), fax (404-524-4278), or e-mail (GDPHINFO@dhr.state.ga.us). The cost varies with the method you choose to use.

If you have a computer, all this information is available online at www.vitalrec.com/ga.html. There is also a site called "VitalChek," www.vitalchek.com, where you can obtain information on ordering vital records from any state in the United States. The cost is pretty hefty, but sometimes is worth it if you're in a hurry. VitalChek sends information by overnight mail if you're willing to pay for it.

But, back to Dorothy's specific problem. According to information on the Georgia DHR site, birth certificates are only available since 1919 and cost $10. (VitalChek costs more.) I would advise calling first as these prices may be out of date. Access to birth information is limited to the person named, the parents shown on birth records, authorized legal guardian or agent, grandparent, adult child, or spouse.

Death certificates are available since January 1919 and also cost $10. There are no restrictions listed on who may request death information.

Marriage certificates are available since June 9, 1952 and cost $10. Marriages occurring before 1952 are recorded in the county where the ceremony was performed and are free for the looking. This means if you go to the courthouse, you may look through their old marriage books (kind of a fun thing to do).

Divorce records are another problem entirely. Information is available since June 9, 1952, and is restricted to certification that the divorce took place. The fee of $10 is for the search only, no copies are issued. Certified copies of divorce records are not issued at the state office. The fee at that level is for certification, plus 50 cents per page, and inquiries are forwarded to the appropriate Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Therefore, the fee varies. I would definitely call first.

But there may be an easy alternative for birth and death records. The following is a quote from the Web site: "There are 159 counties in Georgia. Each county has a vital records registrar and a vital records custodian appointed by the state registrar. Depending on the county, the vital records registrar or custodian may be located at the county health department or in the office of the county probate judge. Each of these 159 county vital records offices is authorized to prepare certified copies of birth and death certificates for vital events that occurred in their specific county..."

So, Dorothy, I think if I were you, I'd first call the Fayette County Health Department and see if the death certificate is filed there. I'd try for the birth certificate too, since sometimes there are exceptions to the 1919 rule. If that gets you nowhere, I'd call the Georgia DHR in Atlanta and pursue it that way.

Although this doesn't apply to Dorothy's problem, you can also get vital information from another source: a deceased person's social security application. Several online sites maintain a Social Security Death Index which gives the birth date, death date, where the application was filed (state), and where the last check was sent (county and state). The cost of ordering the application is hefty ($27) but can provide valuable information. For information on the SSDI, go to good ol' Rootsweb, www.rootsweb.com, and read the information on the SSDI. You can also search for your ancestors in the SSDI from the Rootsweb site.

I hope this helps you and others to find their ancestors' vital records. Sometimes these are absolutely necessary for proof and to give credibility to your research.

Looking for your ancestors? Got a genealogy tip? Write to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!