No, we don't all do that. We have financial limitations and must set priorities as to which records we are able to pay for. Some records are potentially more useful than others, so those are the ones we order.
Further, findmypast seems to be rather obstinate on this score since they won't accept photos of headstones, burial records, or obituaries. The National Archives in Canada accepts copies of newspaper obituaries but I have not asked about headstones or burial records, but I expect they would suffice.
I totally understand that some people have financial limitations, but also understand the dangers of not completing the “life cycle” for ancestors where failing to kill them off can lead to wasting vastly more money chasing unconnected lines.
Findmypast have to be obstinate on this. You are potentially asking them to break the law if they get it wrong opening them up to a range of punishment.
They would have far rather have simply scanned the entire register and redacted images of people who complained that they did not their information shared but the law does not allow them to work that way.
They have to show they have shown due diligence when opening these records.
I should also point out FindMyPast have not just sat back now the register is online they have a dedicated team updating the records and removing redactions where possible as proof of death is provided through a number of routes including applicants.
Most of the records were able to be opened when the register went online, more will be opened next week or the week after and so on.
In addition, in some jurisdictions it is difficult or impossible to get a death cert if you are not the next of kin. And, as a final point, we may not know what became of the person in the end or know enough details of their death in order to order a certificate. We don't all live in England, you know, and neither do the people who were enumerated on the 1939 Register.
That is one of the reasons why the applicant has to provide the official proof for those who have since moved abroad.
If the applicant does not what happened to the person they are seeking why should a totally unconnected company who has scanned his/her entry as one of a batch of over 41 million other people?
However the people who were enumerated on the 1939 Register all lived in the Great Britain, at the time, though those in Scotland & Ireland do not appear on this register which is for England & Wales.
I find it a bit cheeky that you would imply that people aren't doing good research if they don't do it your way.
Perhaps you do but that is considered “best practice” here in the UK and has been for many decades.
However in you indignation you missed the smiley at the end of the line indication the remark was tongue in cheek.
Cheers
Guy
