Search Alabama Death Index
You can find death records in Alabama going back to 1908. The state keeps these files at the Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. All 67 county health offices can print death certificates too. They use a shared state database called ViSION. Records more than 25 years old are open to the public in Alabama. Newer Alabama death certificates can only go to close family members. This guide shows you how to get death records, what fees to pay, and where to find old death indexes for family research in Alabama.
Alabama Death Records Facts
What Alabama Death Records Contain
The state requires all deaths to be filed within five days. Funeral homes handle most of the filing work in Alabama. They work with doctors or coroners to fill out the cause of death. Under state law, each Alabama death certificate must show key facts about the person who died and how they died.
You can find these details on Alabama death certificates:
- Full legal name of the person who died
- Date and place of death by county and city
- Cause of death as stated by a doctor
- Age at death or date of birth
- Social Security Number if known
- Names of both parents
- Spouse name if married
The form also shows which funeral home filed it. You can see the burial or cremation site too. This makes death records helpful for legal needs and family tree research in Alabama.
How to Get Death Certificates in Alabama
You can get Alabama death certificates in three ways. The best choice depends on how fast you need it. It also depends on whether you can visit an office in person.
Visit a County Health Department
The fastest way is to go in person. Any of the 67 county health offices can help you in Alabama. They all use the same ViSION database. This means you can get a death record from any county office, not just the one where the death took place. Most offices print your copy while you wait. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Bring a photo ID. Know the full name of the person who died. Have the death date and county ready if you can.
Order by Mail from Montgomery
You can mail your request to the state office. Send the form to the Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. Pay by check or money order. Make it out to "Center for Health Statistics." Mail it to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103. It takes 7 to 10 days to process. The state does not take cash by mail.
Order Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the state's online partner. You can order at vitalchek.com. You can also call 1-888-279-9888. Pay by credit or debit card. Pick rush shipping if you need it fast. However, VitalChek adds service fees on top of the state fee. Standard orders take 7 to 10 days in Alabama. Rush orders take 2 to 3 days plus shipping time.
Who Can Request Alabama Death Certificates
Under state law, Alabama death records stay private for 25 years. After 25 years, anyone can get a copy. You do not need a reason. However, for deaths in the past 25 years, only certain people can get a copy in Alabama.
The state allows these people to request recent death certificates:
- Parents of the person who died
- Spouse of the person who died
- Children of the person who died
- Brothers or sisters
- Grandchildren
- Lawyers acting for the family or estate
- The person who signed the death form
Others may qualify. You must show a legal or property need for the record in Alabama. State and federal agencies can get records for official work. Researchers can request data through special agreements with the state.
Firms seeking bulk copies or mailing lists cannot get restricted death records in Alabama.
Alabama Death Certificate Fees
The State Board of Health sets all fees for Alabama death records. The fees are the same at every county office. They are the same at the state office in Montgomery too.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Search fee with one certified copy | $15.00 |
| Each additional copy in same order | $6.00 |
| Expedited processing | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment or correction | $20.00 |
| Delayed registration | $20.00 |
You still pay the fee if no record is found. You get a letter that says no record exists. The state does not give refunds. VitalChek adds extra service fees to online orders in Alabama.
Historical Death Records in Alabama
The state began keeping death records on January 1, 1908. It took time for all counties to file properly. By 1925, about 90 percent of deaths were being filed in Alabama. All records from 1908 to now are at the Center for Health Statistics. Those older than 25 years are public in Alabama.
Do Death Records Exist Before 1908?
You must search other record types for deaths before 1908. Some county health officers kept death logs starting in 1881. However, not all counties did this. These early logs are on microfilm at the Alabama Archives in Montgomery.
You can find pre-1908 death facts in these sources:
- Probate court files like wills and estates
- Church burial records
- Cemetery logs and grave markers
- Newspaper death notices
- Federal death census from 1850 to 1880
Free Online Death Indexes
FamilySearch has a free database called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. It holds over 1.8 million names. You can see scans of the real certificates. Search by name and view records at no cost.
The Alabama Archives gives free access to Ancestry.com, Fold3, and Newspapers.com. You must use their computers in person. The building is at 624 Washington Avenue in Montgomery. Staff can help you find death records and other family sources in Alabama.
How Deaths Are Investigated in Alabama
Not all deaths go through a simple filing. When someone dies from violence, accident, or sudden causes, the county coroner steps in. The coroner finds out how and why the person died. Alabama uses elected coroners in 65 of its 67 counties.
Three counties work differently. Jefferson County has a medical examiner office with trained doctors. This office checks about 950 bodies each year in Alabama. It is one of the best in the nation. Bibb County and Escambia County also use medical examiners now.
The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences helps coroners across the state. It runs three autopsy labs. The Huntsville lab serves the north. The Montgomery lab covers the center of the state. The Mobile lab handles eight southern counties in Alabama.
Alabama Death Records Contact Information
The Center for Health Statistics is the main state office for death records. Staff can answer questions about your request. They can help with hard cases too.
| Office | Center for Health Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 246 Montgomery, AL 36104 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 5625 Montgomery, AL 36103-5625 |
| Phone | (334) 206-5418 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central |
You can get the request form online. It is called Form HS-14. Download it from the Alabama Department of Public Health website. The form asks for basic facts about the person who died and your link to them.
Start Your Search
Use this search tool to find death records in Alabama or other states.
Browse Alabama Death Records by County
All 67 counties have a health office. Each one can issue death certificates in Alabama. Pick a county below to find local office details and contact info.
Alabama Death Records by City
Death records are filed at the county level. However, you can find out which county serves your city below. Pick a city to see local info in Alabama.