Search Madison Death Records
Madison death records are kept by the Madison County Health Department. A small part of the city extends into Limestone County in Alabama.
Madison Quick Facts
Madison County Health Department
The Madison County Health Department handles Madison death certificates. Most of the city falls within Madison County. The office sits on Max Luther Drive in Huntsville, roughly 15 minutes from downtown Madison. Staff can search the state database and print your copy while you wait in Alabama.
| Office | Madison County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Max Luther Drive NW Huntsville, AL 35811 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 17708 Huntsville, AL 35810 |
| Phone | (256) 539-3711 |
| Vital Records | (256) 533-8677 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit in Madison. Staff will need some basic facts about the deceased. Have the full legal name ready. Know when they died. Know the county where it happened. A Social Security Number helps find the record faster in Alabama.
Limestone County Health Department
Part of Madison extends into Limestone County. If you need records for someone who lived in that part, you can ask at the Limestone County Health Department in Alabama. However, all county offices link to the same state system. You can ask for any Madison death certificate at any county office in Alabama.
| Office | Limestone County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1115 W. Market Street Athens, AL 35611 |
| Phone | (256) 232-3200 |
How to Get Death Certificates in Madison
Madison residents have several ways to get death certificates. Your choice depends on how soon you need it. It also depends on whether you can make a trip to a health department office in Alabama.
Go to the Health Department
Walking into the Madison County Health Department is the fastest way. Staff can pull up Madison death certificates in the ViSION database. They print certified copies while you wait. Most requests take 15 to 30 minutes in Alabama. The office takes cash, checks, and money orders. It is open on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM in Madison.
Use Any Alabama County Office
You do not have to go to Madison County. Every county health department in Alabama can access the same death records. If you work in Birmingham or are visiting Montgomery, you can ask for Madison death records there. Same fees. Same certified copies in Alabama.
Send a Mail Request
You can order by mail from the Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. Fill out the form. Send it with a check made out to Center for Health Statistics to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. The fee is $15 for the first copy. Add $6 for extra copies in the same order. Processing takes 7 to 10 days in Alabama.
Order Online
VitalChek handles online orders for Alabama vital records. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888. Pay with a card. They have regular and rush shipping options. VitalChek adds service fees on top of the state price for Madison death records. A typical order takes 7 to 10 days in Alabama.
Who Can Request Madison Death Certificates
Alabama limits access to recent death records. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates stay sealed for 25 years. After that, anyone can ask for copies for any reason in Madison.
If the death was within 25 years, only certain people can get a copy. Those who qualify include:
- Parents of the deceased
- Spouse of the deceased
- Children of the deceased
- Siblings of the deceased
- Grandchildren
- Legal reps for family or estate matters
- The informant on the death certificate
You may also qualify if you can show a personal or property interest in the Madison death record. Insurance claims and estate matters fit this rule. Government agencies doing official work and researchers with written deals can also access records in Alabama. Firms seeking bulk data or mailing lists cannot get restricted Madison death certificates in Alabama.
Madison Death Certificate Fees
Fee amounts are set by the State Board of Health under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-23. All county health departments charge the same rates in Alabama.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Search fee with one certified copy | $15.00 |
| Each additional copy (same order) | $6.00 |
| Expedited processing | $15.00 additional |
| Amendment or correction | $20.00 |
These fees are not refundable. If the state cannot find a match, you get a Certificate of Failure to Find instead of a Madison death certificate. You still pay the $15. VitalChek orders have extra charges in Alabama.
Madison County Death Records
Most of Madison falls within Madison County. This is one of the most populous counties in Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat. Madison County was formed in 1808. It is one of the original counties in Alabama.
The Madison County Coroner looks into deaths from violence, accidents, suicide, and sudden unexplained causes in Madison. The coroner works with medical staff to find the cause and manner of death. The findings go on the official Madison death certificate in Alabama.
The Madison County Probate Court keeps other useful records. These include wills, estate files, and guardianship documents. They can help when researching family history or handling estate matters in Madison.
Historical Death Records for Madison
Alabama started death registration on January 1, 1908. It took until about 1925 before 90 percent of deaths were registered. Madison death records from 1908 on are in the state system in Alabama.
For deaths before 1908 in the Madison area, you need other sources. Some early county records exist on microfilm at the Alabama Archives in Montgomery. Madison County has some of the older records in north Alabama since it was formed so early in Alabama.
Sources for finding death info before 1908 include:
- Probate court wills and estate files
- Cemetery records from local graveyards
- Church records of deaths and burials
- Old newspaper obituaries
- Federal mortality schedules from 1850 to 1880
FamilySearch has a free database called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. Over 1.8 million names are indexed. You can search and see scans of original Madison death certificates at no cost. The Alabama Archives in Montgomery also gives free access to Ancestry.com in their research room in Alabama.
Search Death Records
Use the search tool below to find death records in Madison, Madison County, or anywhere else in Alabama.
Nearby Alabama Cities
Madison is part of the Huntsville metro area. These other cities have pages with death record info:
Madison County
Madison is in Madison County. A small part extends into Limestone County. For more details about death records in this area, see the Madison County page in Alabama.