Mobile Death Records Lookup
Mobile death records are available through the Mobile County Health Department. Some entries date back to 1820 in Alabama.
Mobile Quick Facts
Where to Get Death Certificates in Mobile
Mobile is the county seat of Mobile County. The county health department handles all Mobile death certificate requests. The main office is on North Bayou Street. It is just a few blocks from Mobile Bay. This office has been issuing vital records for over a century in Alabama.
The Mobile County Health Department runs on its own. It has its own website at mchd.org. They also take credit and debit cards at the main office. There is a $1.95 fee for card payments in Mobile. This makes Mobile one of the easier places to get death certificates if you lack cash in Alabama.
| Office | Mobile County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 251 North Bayou Street Mobile, AL 36603 |
| Phone | (251) 690-8158 |
| Vital Records | (251) 690-8150 or (251) 690-8898 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Payment Methods | Cash, check, money order, credit/debit card (+$1.95 fee) |
How to Request a Death Certificate
Mobile residents have several ways to get death certificates. Your choice depends on speed and whether you can visit an office in person in Alabama.
Visit Mobile County Health Department
Walking into the office on North Bayou Street is the fastest way. Bring a valid photo ID. Know the basic facts about the deceased. Have their full name. Know when they died. Know the county where it happened. Staff can print your copy in 15 to 30 minutes in Mobile. The office takes cash, check, money order, and cards. Card payments have a $1.95 fee in Alabama.
Order by Mail
You can mail your request to the Mobile County Health Department or to the state office in Montgomery. Get Form HS-14 from the state health site. Fill it out. Include a copy of your ID. Make your check out to the office you are mailing to. Processing takes about 7 to 10 days in Alabama.
Order 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. Pick fast shipping if you need it. Standard delivery takes 7 to 10 days for Mobile death records. Rush orders arrive in 2 to 3 days. VitalChek adds service fees in Alabama.
Use Any Alabama County Office
All 67 counties in Alabama link to the same ViSION database. You can ask for a Mobile death certificate at any county health department. If you live in Birmingham or Huntsville but need a Mobile death record, visit your local office. The fees are the same in Alabama.
Death Certificate Fees in Mobile
Fees for death certificates are set by the State Board of Health under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-23. Mobile County charges the same fees as every other county in Alabama.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy (includes search) | $15.00 |
| Each additional copy (same order) | $6.00 |
| Credit/debit card convenience fee | $1.95 |
| Expedited processing | $15.00 extra |
| Amendments or corrections | $20.00 |
If the state cannot find a match, you still pay the fee. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find instead of a Mobile death certificate. Fees are not refundable. VitalChek orders have extra charges in Alabama.
Who Can Get a Death Certificate
Access to Mobile death records depends on age. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates stay sealed for 25 years. After 25 years, anyone can ask for a copy for any purpose in Mobile.
Public Records After 25 Years
Mobile death certificates over 25 years old are open to the public. You do not need to prove any link to the deceased in Alabama. This applies to all deaths in Alabama, including historical records from Mobile dating back to 1820. Older records are popular with family historians in Mobile.
Restricted Records Under 25 Years
For deaths within 25 years, only certain people may get copies. The law allows requests from parents, spouses, children, siblings, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal reps handling the estate can also ask in Alabama. Others may qualify by showing a personal or property interest in the Mobile death record.
Government agencies can access sealed records for official work in Alabama. Researchers may ask for data under written deals with the state. Firms seeking bulk lists cannot get restricted Mobile death records.
Mobile Historical Death Records
Mobile County has one of the richest sets of historical vital records in Alabama. Death recording in Mobile began around 1820. This makes it one of the earliest places in the state to keep such records. The Mobile County Probate Court holds some of these older documents in Alabama.
For deaths before 1908, you may find useful info in several places. Church burial records, cemetery files, and newspaper obituaries often hold death details. The Mobile County Probate Court website has a Landmark WEB system. You can search some historical records online without an account in Mobile.
Free Online Resources
FamilySearch gives free access to Alabama death records from 1908 to 1974. This database has over 1.8 million names. You can search at familysearch.org for no cost. The Mobile Public Library also has genealogy resources. They can help you find Mobile death info in local newspapers and city directories in Alabama.
Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences
The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences runs a regional lab in Mobile. This lab serves eight southern counties in Alabama. It handles autopsies when the county coroner asks for one. Deaths from violence, accidents, suicides, or unexplained causes may go through this lab for Mobile death records.
Mobile County Death Records
Mobile is the county seat of Mobile County. The county has over 410,000 people. The county health department handles Mobile death certificates for all cities in the county. For more details about county resources, visit the Mobile County page in Alabama.
Nearby Cities
Other major Alabama cities with death record info and resources:
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