I received this letter and another one later saying that this
independent
researcher charges $$$ per hour for this research:
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"Judy,
I sent a letter to the Spencer County courthouse asking for some marriage
records sevral months ago. They apparently forwarded it to an independant
researcher. She wrote to me telling me that the Spencer County courthouse
will not do genealogy anymore. Is this true? And, if so, what do you
recommend those of us who live out of state do?
Sherri Hessick"
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The other message I received said pretty much the same thing and said that
she couldn't even get xerox' of records where she provided dates, etc.
Thought it strange that 2 persons wrote within a couple days apart with same
complaint/problem. I can understand them not doing research (where persons
don't know the names or dates or want everything on a particular family) but
getting xerox' of vital statistics that are public domain and in courthouse
already seems "strange" -- isn't this why we are paying them their
salaries?
Are any of the other counties doing this and can anyone verify that the
courthouse won't do the xerox' of birth, death, marriage, etc. records
anymore?
How are others handling this in their counties? Shame that you can't even
get xerox' of a marriage record, etc. without paying for research fees too.
I wanted to have someone confirm this is really occurring and find out if
anyone in the Spencer Co area could tell me even what these independent
researchers are asking just to get a xerox of a marriage certificate, etc.
Thanks,
Judy M.