Alberta BMD Certificates

[rebeccaclaire86]

Evening all - I really am in need a bit of help from anyone who's managed to order BMD certificates from Alberta, as I just can't quite understand the process!

My great-granddad was born out there, and it's his birth, the marriage of my 2x great-grandparents and the death of my 2x great-granddad & 3x great-granddad I'm after.

Now, in terms of eligibility the marriage & deaths occurred far enough back that I should be allowed to order them - but the birth was in 1912, under the 120 year cut off.  Gt-granddad died in 1984 so less than 50 years ago, so I understand that  in this situation I need proof of the relationship, which would seem to involve his death certificate (which I have as it's a UK one) and a sworn affidavit saying that I'm a family member.

The main stumbling block, though, is that the sworn affidavit AND proof of identity that every person applying seems to need to provide (even for the certificates that are old enough that in theory they should be fine to be released) seems to have to be signed and executed by a notary in Canada...  And I live in England!

I've emailed them to ask how I go about doing this from overseas, but received no reply.  Before I tear my hair out, run up an extortionate phone bill ringing them, or throw myself on the mercy of a lovely-but-distantly-related Canadian cousin, does anyone with a bit more experience in genealogy in Alberta have any bright ideas how I can get hold of these certificates?

I will never moan about the GRO in the UK again...........  Thanks so much for any help

Becky

[Jacquie in Canada]

From reading the instructions for people who live outside Alberta I don't see where it says it has to be a Notary Public in Canada. It just says either a Notary Public or a Commissioner for Oaths. Here's a link to their information booklet:
http://www.servicealberta.ca/pdf/vs/DVS_3317.pdf

If you don't know where to find a Notary Public in England, here's a link to a website that should help:
http://www.thenotariessociety.org.uk/

Jacquie

[rebeccaclaire86]

Thank you so much Jacquie - I completely didn't think and just assumed it referred to a Canadian one...  Having used that website, I notice that any solicitor is counted a a Commissioner for Oaths, and in a really strange coincidence my only solicitor friend is coming to visit tonight having not seen her in months...  Luck seems to be on my side!!

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it

Becky