Can you call the government to ask for information from census records for free?

Question

Can you call the government to ask for information from census records for free?

Answer 1

Which country and what year?

Some of us have access to census records and may be able to help you.

Answer 2

No not here in the UK you cant, I doubt if you can in the USA either. You should edit your question and let one of the researchers help you,  we love to help.

Answer 3

No, you can't.

Answer 4

If it is 1940 or after you can. But you need to know where they lived and the street address. You can send for the form from the National Archives,Washington D.C.(no other address  needed). They will send you the form to fill out and the cost is $25.00.

Answer 5

The census bureau maintains records on millions of persons.. but NOT for the purpose of doing genealogical research.  Records are on microfilm (countless pages/ rolls). Ancestry.com purchased the entire US census films, and has them indexed.. but they are providing a service, for a business fee. You can also access the records at other places, ie libraries, or the LDS family history centers.

Providing personnel to answer such questions for the public would entail probably millions of dollars in man hours. Hiring the staff would certainly help the economy, but mess up the budget.