Tracking your correspondence
Keeping track of who you write to and what you ask for is a good idea. This way you won't repeat your efforts unnecessarily.
1. Set up a correspondence table. Use either a pen and paper or spreadsheet software to make a table. You can divide it up into columns such as Date Sent, Name andamp Address, Information Requested, Payment Sent, and Information Received, as shown in the example below. Leave plenty of room to write clearly. Also see our guidelines for writing to places to request info for more information on this subject:
| Date | Address | Information Requested | Information Rec'd | $ Sent |
| 6/7/1994 | Vital Statistics New Mexico Health Services PO Box 26110 Santa Fe, NM 87502 | Birth certificate for Alan Robert Haynie | Copy of certificate | $10.00 |
| 7/4/1994 | Mildred Haynie | Marriage dates for her children, birthdates for her grandchildren | Information requested | None |
| 7/17/1994 | Roberta Haynie | Marriage dates for her children, birthdates for her grandchildren | Not yet received | None |
2. Keep a copy of all letters. Copies act as a record of what information you requested, from whom, payment sent (if any), and date sent.
Correspondence table
| Date | Address | Information Requested | Information Rec'd | $ Sent |