Frequently Asked Questions
How can I print the certificate images that you send me? The key is to save the images and use a computer program (Photoshop, Picasa, or even something like Word) to control the image size for printing. Here's a way to do it using WindowsXP.
How long do lookups take? Turnaround time is almost always quite quick. I usually do lookups on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and report back before the day's over. If you don't hear from me as expected, please contact me immediately. It's very important to me to turn things around in a timely way but occasionally email goes astray.
Why do you only offer Chicago death record lookups between 1923 and 1947? The death certificates from 1878-1922 are online for free at FamilySearch and the death certificates after 1947 aren't available for public searching. The only records I can save you money on (the County Clerk's Office charges $15 each and I charge $6) are those that fall between 1923 and 1947.
May I telephone you with a request? No. ChicagoGenealogy.com has no telephone number and I don't accept requests or offer consultation by phone. Email lets me work efficiently, which in turn, helps me keep my prices low.
You call yourself a "lookup service." How is that different from a "professional genealogist?" My goal is to provide quick, reasonably-priced access to documents that match the index entries you've found. If you need someone to formulate and carry out a research plan or if you need certified documents for legal purposes, you will want to find a genealogist or other professional to help.
Why do you have the links to the Family History Library Catalog on your web pages? One of my website goals is to provide you with detailed information about the Chicago/Cook records that are available through Family History Centers. The Family History Center that I visit has many of these records on microfilm, making it possible for me to do quick lookups, but these films can be requested through any Family History Centers worldwide. I provide the catalog links to make it easy for those of you who would like to order films to do your own research.