It is not unusual for genealogists to keep information regarding the living off the Internet - for obvious reasons.
However, what about the recently departed. Say, in the last thirty or forty years.
I have published death records ca turn of the century [no, I am talking about ca 1900] as well as birth records, marriage records, land records, church records.
I have no qualms about posting my parents death records and/or death notices.
I have yet to publish to the Internet my grandmother's divorce records as I believe these are much too personal to allow all to read.
What about recent real estate transactions, these are public records, should these be published.
Where is the line drawn and what are the exceptions.
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4 comments:
Gerry, the title to your post is the answer to your question. Documents that are recorded or filed are all amatter of public record. I think that the only exception is adoptions and that is because laws are in place that prevent it. You feel that your grandparents divorce is too personal to put online, unfortunately your feelings won't prevent someone else from doing it.
We often don't even request permission of the living to publish information related to them. Perhaps we should, especially if it is info not in the public domain.
However, public domain info concerning the dead seems mostly a benefit to the living.
Now I have a better understanding of the issue.
Publish.
I guess accepting a request not to
publish or to consider removing something that you have already published is reasonable.
I think the rights of the living to be informed is very great.
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