Just as automated checkout machines in grocery stores have made the customer both the checker and the bagger, now self-service portals are allowing citizens to become, in effect, their own county clerk.
That's the case in Ottawa County, Mich., where a new service will allow citizens to order and instantly print out certified copies of vital records from the county clerk's office through a Web interface.
Few counties across the nation offer this capability, but it might become a common practice as more government services are pushed online.
Users won't need to visit the clerk's office or receive paperwork through postal mail. Birth certificates, marriage licenses, property deeds and other records will be available through the online service.