How to describe death certificate that is not a copy of the original

By jmguimond on Sat, 03/09/2024 - 19:30

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I received 3 death certificates from El Paso County, Colorado Vital Records Office.  All state "For Genealogical use only."  Two look like photocopies of the originals, but on official certificate paper.  The third looks like it was generated from a computer record.  The format is modern, and there is no handwritten content or signatures, like I see on the other death certificates.

It does list the dates it was originally signed and filed by the register (1982).  Other than the original signature, there is no indication that any information from the original is missing, but I can't be sure.  I don't think it's appropriate to call it a short form, as all the personal information is present, but it could be missing details from the original or have transcription errors.  Should I identify it as computer-generated or extracted or is there another description I should use? 

Another quirk is that whereas the other two forms have local file numbers, the one without any handwritten content only has a state file number, despite coming from a county office.  

BTW, I love EE 4th Edition.  It's definitely worth it to upgrade from previous edition!

Jenn

Submitted byEEon Mon, 03/11/2024 - 08:52

Jenn, without seeing the documents, I cannot tell you exactly what you have. Your descriptions do make it seem that you have two different types of death certificates—one possibly an image of the original that's printed on certificate paper and the other a computer-generated short form.

The important issue is not the label that is applied. What's important is that you identify, as precisely as possible, what you have. Use your own words to describe what you have received.

EE provides different examples for what we generically call "original certificates" and "short-form certificates." Those are generic descriptions, not formal labels for something with immutable characteristics. The purpose in EE's two different treatments is to encourage researchers to analyze what they have and consider issues that affect accuracy and completeness.  That's what you've done. Having done it, just describe what you have.

Submitted byjmguimondon Fri, 03/29/2024 - 18:03

Thanks!  I will call it computer-generated, as it seems to have all the information provided in photocopies of original death certificates around that time.  

Jenn