Have experience with Archives.com?

[runwad]

I need a "copy" of my fathers death certificate from 1996. I can get one online by signing up for this service, Archives.com, it's free for 7 days and then will charge your card 9.99/mo if you don't cancel before the free trial ends. I'm a little leery giving them my credit card info, but would make it so easy to be able to get the death certificate online and not go down to the bureau of vital statistics. There is a time element and I need it as soon as possible.

So do you have any experience with this site? Is it safe to use? Thanks

edit only require a "copy" not certified.

 

[Ranger111]

Personally, I have heard so many tales of woe on "free trials" with your credit card number, I would never do it unless I gave them a prepaid card that they could not go on charging and charging and charging, or a card that was ready to expire.

To be clear, I have NEVER heard bad about Archives.com. So ???

Most government Vital Stats offices now allow online ordering....and a lot of them have "express" service available if needed, sometimes through a third-party, sometimes not. I would check the county Web site and see what it says, or call them....and as long as I were doing it, I would order certified copies and a couple of extra (just in case).

Just my WAG.

 

[MAO]

Are you sure your state/county/city/whatever doesn't have such a record online that you could just print out? Archives must have gotten it from somewhere - it's not likely they have a large number of employees going to every bureau in the country to physically scan such documents into their database. Have you called the bureau or the hospital or place where he died to ask them if there's a copy available online anywhere?

 

[Terry H]

Did you check Ancestry.com? If not or can't I can if you want.


http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5763

 

[Alesia]

There have been many, many reports of people being charged the $39.95 annual fee even when they cancel on time.

 

[Ranger111]

Are you sure your state/county/city/whatever doesn't have such a record online that you could just print out? Archives must have gotten it from somewhere - it's not likely they have a large number of employees going to every bureau in the country to physically scan such documents into their database. Have you called the bureau or the hospital or place where he died to ask them if there's a copy available online anywhere?

As I understand it, these sites such as Archives.com have a deal with the official entity that allows sites such as Archive.com to access the database. The rationale is that takes some of the stress from the office staff at the county office in dealing numerous requests for simple copes each month and streamlines it for patrons, also. But, there is no public access to the database. The government gets their fee and has to do no real work and the vendor gets a bit of $$.

I've had to deal with such things quite a bit in the past few years. But, still, there are a fair number of county/state/local offices that make such data available online fairly quickly -- but seldom free.

As an aside, in my experience, death certificates often times are available through the state government, county government or sometimes both.

 

[Ranger111]

There have been many, many reports of people being charged the $39.95 annual fee even when they cancel on time.

Unfortunately, I was afraid of that....

 

[MAO]

This article has some links that might be useful: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-get-death-certificate.html

 

[runwad]

Are you sure your state/county/city/whatever doesn't have such a record online that you could just print out? Archives must have gotten it from somewhere - it's not likely they have a large number of employees going to every bureau in the country to physically scan such documents into their database. Have you called the bureau or the hospital or place where he died to ask them if there's a copy available online anywhere?

Yes I'm sure I have to go to the office, I can't get a copy on line, bummer. I need it fairly quick so I'll have to go on my lunch hour. I was just trying to save myself a trip if I could get a copy on line.

Oh and I tried the funeral home but they didn't keep copies back then but they do now, so that's a strike out too. Thanks everyone for your information and help.

 

[MAO]

I don't know the reason you need a copy of something that happened so long ago, but if you have to go to the office anyways you might consider trying to get at least one certified copy. That way, if you *do* need a certified copy in the future, you'll have it (and, if inflation has increased the price, you can tell yourself you saved money!)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I don't know the reason you need a copy of something that happened so long ago, but if you have to go to the office anyways you might consider trying to get at least one certified copy. That way, if you *do* need a certified copy in the future, you'll have it (and, if inflation has increased the price, you can tell yourself you saved money!)

Seriously? There could be many reasons the OP needs this.

OP, just make yourself a note to cancel before the free period ends. If you do and are still charged, it's pretty easy to dispute with your credit card company.

 

[runwad]

i know people wonder, I always do when I read posts like this...my dad was part of a class action law suit that is finally coming to a close after almost 30 years!! Crazy uh? But this is kinda cool that he is sending us this from the grave. It won't be much split 5 ways between us all, but we'll all get together and go do something as a family, my parents would've wanted us to do that.

 

[MAO]

Actually, I'm sorry. I was trying to imply that it was none of my business whatsoever. And that, whatever the reason, you should consider the possibility of needing something like this in the future. I did not mean, in any way, that I wanted - needed - deserved- or desired - to know the reason.

 

[Alesia]

Actually, I'm sorry. I was trying to imply that it was none of my business whatsoever. And that, whatever the reason, you should consider the possibility of needing something like this in the future. I did not mean, in any way, that I wanted - needed - deserved- or desired - to know the reason.

FWIW, That's exactly how I read it.

 

[MomToOne]

I wouldn't count on Archives.com having a death certificate as recent as 1996. And if they have info, often they just have "index" or "record" data, not an actual death certificate image.

Archives.com is really meant for doing family genealogical research, not for getting things like recent birth or death certificates - and by recent, I mean the last 50 years or so. A better website to use for recent items is vitalchek.com - you pay a fee per document ordered, but not all states participate.

I've been able to order copies of my birth certificate from the county I was born in over the phone - you might want to try that as well.