Find Death Records in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa death records are kept by the Tuscaloosa County Health Department. You can get death certificates at their office on Hargrove Road East in Alabama.
Tuscaloosa Quick Facts
Where to Get Death Certificates in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is part of Tuscaloosa County. The county health department handles all Tuscaloosa death certificate requests. The office sits on Hargrove Road East, about 4 miles from downtown Tuscaloosa. Staff can look up and print copies while you wait in Alabama.
| Office | Tuscaloosa County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 2350 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 |
| Phone | (205) 562-6900 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit in Tuscaloosa. Know the full name of the deceased. Know when they died. Know the county where it happened if you can. If you ask for a record from the past 25 years, be ready to show proof of your link to the deceased in Alabama.
How to Request a Death Certificate
Tuscaloosa residents have several ways to get death records. Your choice depends on how soon you need it. It also depends on whether you can visit an office in person in Alabama.
In Person at the Health Department
Going to the Tuscaloosa County Health Department is the fastest way. Walk into the vital records window during office hours. Fill out a form. Staff will search the database. They print your copy on the spot if the record exists. Most requests take 15 to 30 minutes in Tuscaloosa. The office takes cash, check, and money orders. Some offices take cards. Call to check in Alabama.
By Mail Through the State Office
You can mail a request to the Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. Get form HS-14 from the state health site. Fill it out. Include a check made out to Center for Health Statistics. Send it to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Expect 7 to 10 days for processing in Alabama.
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek partners with Alabama for online orders. Order at vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888. Pay with a card. VitalChek adds service fees beyond the state cost for Tuscaloosa death records. Standard shipping takes about a week. Rush delivery costs more in Alabama.
At Any Alabama County Health Department
You can ask for a Tuscaloosa death certificate at any county health department in Alabama. All 67 counties link to the same ViSION system. If you live near Birmingham or Huntsville now but need a Tuscaloosa death record, visit the health department there. Same fees apply in Alabama.
Death Certificate Fees
Alabama sets the same fees for death certificates at all counties. Whether you order in Tuscaloosa or through the state office, you pay the same amount in Alabama.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy (includes search) | $15.00 |
| Each additional copy (same order) | $6.00 |
| Expedited processing (state office) | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment or correction | $20.00 |
The $15 fee covers the search and one copy. If the state cannot find a match, you still pay the fee. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find instead of a Tuscaloosa death certificate. Fees are not refundable. Order many copies at once to save. Extra copies cost just $6 each in Alabama.
Who Can Request Tuscaloosa Death Records
The age of the record sets who can get a copy. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates stay sealed for 25 years. After that, anyone can ask for one for any reason in Tuscaloosa.
For deaths within 25 years, only certain people qualify. The list includes:
- Spouse of the deceased
- Parents of the deceased
- Children of the deceased
- Brothers and sisters
- Grandchildren
- Legal guardians
- Attorneys working for family
- The informant on the form
- Others with a property or personal interest
Government agencies can access records for official work in Alabama. Researchers may use data under written deals with the state. Firms seeking bulk copies cannot get restricted Tuscaloosa death records in Alabama.
What Tuscaloosa Death Records Show
A certified death certificate from Alabama holds detailed facts. The info proves useful for estates, insurance claims, and family research in Tuscaloosa.
Each death certificate includes:
- Full legal name of the deceased
- Date of death
- Place of death by city and county
- Cause of death from a doctor or coroner
- Manner of death
- Age at death or date of birth
- Social Security Number
- Names of parents
- Marital status and spouse name
- Usual job and industry
- Race and education level
- Funeral home name
- Burial or cremation details
The certificate shows when the death was registered. It shows if any changes have been made. Certified copies hold legal weight for court and business matters in Tuscaloosa.
Historical Death Records in Tuscaloosa
Alabama started death registration on January 1, 1908. Records from that date are in the state system in Alabama. Early compliance was not full. Some deaths from the first years went unrecorded. By 1925, most deaths were being registered in Tuscaloosa.
For deaths before 1908, you need to search other records. Tuscaloosa County probate court files sometimes note deaths in wills and estates. Church records from local groups may list burial dates. Cemetery records and tombstone readings also help in Alabama.
FamilySearch has a free database called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. This set has over 1.8 million names with scans of original certificates. You can search at familysearch.org for no cost. The Alabama Archives in Montgomery gives free access to Ancestry.com in their research room in Alabama.
Related Tuscaloosa Resources
Beyond Tuscaloosa death certificates, residents may need other types of records. Here are some related offices in Alabama:
Tuscaloosa County Probate Court
The probate court handles wills, estates, and guardianships. When someone dies, estate matters go through this office in Tuscaloosa. Contact the court at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse for estate filings tied to a deceased person in Alabama.
Tuscaloosa County Coroner
Deaths from accidents, violence, suicide, or sudden unexplained causes go through the county coroner. The coroner looks into the circumstances and finds the cause of death. If a death needed an autopsy, extra records may exist at that office beyond the standard Tuscaloosa death certificate in Alabama.
University of Alabama Libraries
For family history research on historical Tuscaloosa families, the University of Alabama special collections hold useful items. Local history papers and newspaper archives may help fill gaps in your family research in Alabama.
Nearby Alabama Cities
Looking for death records in other parts of Alabama? These cities have pages with local info:
Tuscaloosa County Death Records
For full info about death records in Tuscaloosa County, visit our county page. You will find more details about the county health department and related offices in Alabama.
Search Tuscaloosa Death Records
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