Search Birmingham Death Records
Birmingham death records are filed through the Jefferson County Department of Health. You can get copies at their office or by mail in Alabama.
Birmingham Quick Facts
Jefferson County Handles Birmingham Death Records
Birmingham sits in Jefferson County. All death records for the city go through the county system in Alabama. Jefferson County is the most populous county in the state. Over 670,000 people live there. The county health department runs apart from the state but still links to the same ViSION database for vital records in Birmingham.
You can ask for a Birmingham death certificate at the Jefferson County office. You can also go to any other county health department in Alabama. The system is linked. It does not matter which office you visit. However, going to Jefferson County makes sense if you want to ask staff questions about local steps for Birmingham death records.
The Jefferson County Medical Examiner also plays a role. This office looks into deaths from violence, accidents, and sudden causes in Birmingham. It is one of only three counties in Alabama with a full medical examiner. The office is accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners. They examine roughly 950 bodies each year in Birmingham.
Jefferson County Department of Health
The Jefferson County Department of Health is where Birmingham residents go for death certificates. The office handles vital records requests on weekdays. Staff can print your copy while you wait if the death is in the system. Bring a valid photo ID. Be ready to show your link to the deceased if the death was within 25 years in Birmingham.
| Office | Jefferson County Department of Health |
|---|---|
| Address | 1400 Sixth Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 |
| Main Phone | (205) 933-9110 |
| Vital Records | (205) 930-1106 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:15 PM |
The vital records division sits on the main floor. Staff can help you search if you lack exact details. They have access to Birmingham death certificates from 1908 on. For older records, check with the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Alabama.
How to Request a Death Certificate
Birmingham residents can get death certificates in several ways. The method you pick depends on speed and whether you can visit an office in Alabama.
In Person at Jefferson County
Visit the Jefferson County Department of Health at 1400 Sixth Avenue South in Birmingham. Bring a valid photo ID. Fill out a short form and pay the fee. Staff can print your copy in 15 to 30 minutes if the record is on file. This is the fastest way to get Birmingham death records.
In Person at Any County Health Department
You do not have to go to Jefferson County. All 67 county health offices in Alabama link to the ViSION database. You can ask for a Birmingham death certificate at the Madison County office in Huntsville. You can go to the Mobile County office in Mobile. The process and fees are the same in Alabama.
By Mail to Montgomery
Send a request to the Center for Health Statistics at P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Include the full name of the deceased. Add the date and place of death. Show your link to them. Make your check out to Center for Health Statistics for $15. Processing takes about 7 to 10 days in Alabama.
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the official online partner for Alabama vital records. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888. Pay by card and pick fast shipping if you need it. VitalChek adds service fees on top of the state cost. Standard orders take 7 to 10 days for Birmingham death certificates.
Death Certificate Fees
Fees for Birmingham death records follow the state schedule. These fees apply at Jefferson County, another county, or by mail to Montgomery in Alabama.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy (includes search) | $15.00 |
| Each additional copy in same order | $6.00 |
| Expedited processing | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment or correction | $20.00 |
Fees are not refundable in Alabama. If the office cannot find a match, you still pay. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find instead. VitalChek orders have extra charges beyond these state fees for Birmingham death records.
Who Can Request Death Certificates
Access depends on the age of the record. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates stay sealed for 25 years. After that, anyone can ask for a copy for any reason in Birmingham.
For deaths within 25 years, only certain people may get copies. The list includes:
- Parents of the deceased
- Spouse of the deceased
- Children of the deceased
- Siblings of the deceased
- Grandchildren of the deceased
- Legal reps for family or estate
- The informant on the form
- Others with a personal or property interest
Government agencies can access records for official use in Alabama. Researchers may ask for data under written deals with the state. Commercial firms seeking bulk copies cannot get restricted Birmingham death records.
Other Birmingham Death Record Resources
Beyond the Jefferson County Department of Health, Birmingham residents have access to other offices that may help with death-related records in Alabama.
Jefferson County Probate Court
The probate court handles estate matters after a death. If someone died and left property in Jefferson County, the probate court has records of the estate. The court is at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North in downtown Birmingham.
Jefferson County Medical Examiner
For deaths looked into by the medical examiner, contact that office for autopsy reports. The medical examiner handles deaths from accidents, violence, and unexplained causes in Birmingham. This office runs under Alabama Code Section 45-37-101. It is fully accredited in Alabama.
Birmingham Police Records
If a death involved a crime or accident in city limits, the Birmingham Police may have reports. Their records division can help with requests for police reports tied to a death in Birmingham.
FamilySearch Free Database
For family research, FamilySearch has a free database. It is called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. Over 1.8 million names are in it. You can search and view images of original Birmingham death certificates at no cost.
Historical Death Records in Birmingham
Alabama started keeping death records on January 1, 1908. Birmingham death certificates exist from that date on. Compliance took time. By 1925, roughly 90 percent of deaths were being registered in Alabama.
Jefferson County death records from 1908 are available through the health department. Records older than 25 years are public. Anyone can ask for them without proving a link. This helps with family history research in Birmingham.
For deaths before 1908, you need to look at other record types. Some county health officers kept death registers starting in 1881, but coverage was spotty in Alabama. The Alabama Department of Archives has microfilm copies of these early registers. Other sources for pre-1908 Birmingham death info include probate court records, church burial records, cemetery records, newspaper obituaries, and federal mortality census schedules from 1850 to 1880.
Nearby Alabama Cities
Looking for death records in other parts of Alabama? These cities have pages with local office info:
Jefferson County Death Records
Birmingham is the county seat of Jefferson County. It is the most populous county in Alabama. For more details about death records in the county, visit the Jefferson County page.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find death records in Birmingham, Jefferson County, or anywhere in Alabama.