Miriam BULWAR DAVID-HAY wrote: I have written to the civil records office
(Urzad Stanu Cywilnego) in Lodz, Poland, several times, in both English and
Polish, in an attempt to get the marriage certificate of my grandfather's
sister and the birth certificates of her children. These events would have
taken place in the 1920s-30s..."

The problem facing the Civil Records Office in Lodz is one of legal
correctness. As I understand it, they are legally bound only to produce for
direct descendants records which are less than 100 years old and will not
produce these records for unattested third parties. There are exceptions to
this and I would guess that the acceptable solution would be a legally
notarised document (an affidavit) which states that you are the
representative of the surviving family. However, you will first need to ask
them if that is what they require (otherwise it can be a cost for nothing).

As a matter of interest I also experienced a similar problem with records
over 100 years old except that the rule only applied to the person acting on
my behalf in Lodz (third party affidavit required) and not to me applying as
a distant relative outside of Poland.

Martin Davis
London - UK