Search for Death Records in Alabama

Free Alabama Death Records Lookup

Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Alabama will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.

Death Records in Alabama -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

After Alabama became a state in 1819, county death records registration started in 188 with some few records in probate court. Statewide death record registration commenced in January 1908 and by 1925, the process had reached full compliance. Death records before 1908 at county level can be accessed through county clerks. The Alabama Department of Public Health files all death records that happened after 1908.

Alabama Death Databases

Deaths before 1908
County and statewide death records registration in the state of Alabama started in 1881 and 1908 respectively. For deaths that exist during the time period, you can try the following databases:
1881-1952: At FamilySearch.org Name index to death as well as burial records from Alabama. Given privacy laws, recent death records may not be available for display.
1881-1974: Visit Ancestry.com and pay the required fee at your local family search center

Deaths from 1908 to date
The Alabama Department of Public Health is responsible for filing these records.
1908-1974: Visit FamilySearch.org to get the name index to death as well as burial records from the state of Alabama.
1908-1959: Visit Ancestry.com and pay the required fee to see your family history from the local family search center

What are Death Records?

Death certificates are official documents that provide any relevant information about someone who is deceased. If you’re doing genealogical research, these records come in handy as they contain most of the information you’d need to learn more about your ancestry. Most death records are held by the state the deceased lived or died in, but they lack the burial state of the deceased. Both cemeteries and churches hold death records, as with state governments. Information you can obtain from death records includes the full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death.

Death Certificates in Alabama

There are two ways to obtain a death certificate in the state of Alabama. When you know the exact date of death, you can request for a death certificate either from the county of death or from the Alabama Department of Health State. The advantage of a county request is that it is faster and less expensive. The downside is that county websites are not so user friendly. Making a request at the department of Health State offers the user a search for the state’s index at an extra cost. The downside is that it is a more expensive option as compared to ordering from the county. If you do not know the exact date of death, the Alabama Department of Public Health Office will conduct the search but at a fee. You can also conduct a county search for deaths that happened within the county municipality.

Restrictions:
According to Alabama law, death certificates are considered private records. They have restricted access for 25 years from the deceased’s date of death. Death certificates that are over 25 years old may be obtained by anyone of legal age upon payment of the relevant fee. Death certificates that are less than 25 years old can only be obtained by the following persons once the proper fee is paid:

Fees:
To apply for a death certificate in Alabama, it will cost you $15.00. This fee once death certificate copy (certified) or a ‘Certificate of Failure to Find’ in case the certificate is not found. If you need another copy of the certificate at the time of ordering the first, the fee is $6.00 for every extra copy. Money orders and checks should be paid to the State Board of health. You will need to provide the deceased’s full name, date of death, county of death, age at death, gender and your personal information to establish the relationship to the deceased.

How to Obtain a Death Certificate

You can send a mail request with all required information and fee to the following address:

Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625

In Person request: Visit any county Health Department to get a certified copy of the deceased’s death certificate.

To Order a Certificate Online: You may order certificates through the service provider VitalChek using a major credit or debit card. Note that there are additional fees for using this service and for upgrading to UPS shipping.

Alabama Death Records FAQs

What is an Official Death Certificate?

An official death certificate refers to a death certificate that is issued directly by the Alabama state government or any similar organization. This document contains information such as the individual’s name, physical address, date of birth, and date of death.

Are death records in Alabama considered public information?

Because Alabama’s death records are not public information, they are not available for anonymous searches, as they are in many other states.

What’s the difference between a certified record and Authenticated Certificate?

Certified copies of identification documents can be used to establish one’s identity within the state. An authenticated record signed and sealed by the Secretary of State is required when the records are intended for use in a foreign country, but this is not required in all cases. In Alabama, all vital records such as death certificates, are issued as certified copies.

Conclusion

The state of Alabama is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its voting record as well. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. With our comprehensive guide to Alabama death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.

Disclaimer: OurPublicRecords mission is to give people easy and affordable access to public record information, but OurPublicRecords does not provide private investigator services or consumer reports, and is not a consumer reporting agency per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You may not use our site or service or the information provided to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.