Find Bibb County Death Records
Bibb County death certificates are available at the county health department in Centreville. The health department uses the Alabama ViSION database. They can look up any death that occurred in Bibb County or anywhere else in the state. One thing that makes Bibb County different is the medical examiner system.
Bibb County Quick Facts
Bibb County Health Department
The Bibb County Health Department is where you go for death certificates. It is located in Centreville, which is the county seat. Staff there can search the state vital records database. They print certified copies while you wait in Bibb County.
| Address | 281 Alexander Avenue Centreville, AL 35042 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 926-9702 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | Alabama Public Health - Bibb County |
How to Request a Death Certificate
Getting a Bibb County death certificate is straightforward. You have three main options to choose from.
In Person at the Health Department
Walk in with your ID. Fill out a vital records request form. Give the clerk the name of the deceased. Give them the date of death. If you do not know the exact date, a year or range of years will work. They search the database. If they find it, they print out a certified copy right there. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes in Bibb County.
By Mail
Send a letter to the health department with the full name of the person who died. Include the date of death. Include the place of death if you know it. Add your name and address so they know where to send the certificate. Add a check or money order for the fee. Make it payable to Alabama Department of Public Health. Mail it to the address above. Wait one to two weeks for a response in Alabama.
Online Through VitalChek
The state of Alabama uses VitalChek for online orders. Go to the Alabama Center for Health Statistics website. Click on the link to order vital records. You fill out a form online. You pay by credit card. They mail you the certificate. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the state fee in Bibb County.
Who Can Get Death Certificates
Alabama has rules about who can request Bibb County death certificates. The rules come from Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21.
The big dividing line is 25 years. Bibb County death records are confidential for 25 years from the date of death. After that, they become public records. Anyone can order a copy in Alabama.
For records less than 25 years old, you have to be an eligible person. The spouse of the deceased qualifies. Parents qualify. Children qualify. Siblings and grandchildren qualify too. Legal representatives like lawyers and funeral directors can get copies for official business. Government workers doing their jobs can get them too. A court order allows anyone to get a copy in Bibb County.
Not sure you qualify? Call the health department. They deal with these questions every day in Alabama.
Fees
Bibb County charges the same fees as every other county in Alabama. The state sets the prices. The fee schedule is as follows:
| First Copy | $15.00 |
|---|---|
| Additional Copies | $6.00 each (same order) |
| Expedited Processing | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment to Record | $20.00 |
The fee is not refundable. If the search finds nothing, you do not get your money back. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find instead. This proves you tried in Bibb County.
The Bibb County Health Department processes death certificate requests through the Alabama ViSION system.
Medical Examiner System
One thing that sets Bibb County apart is its death investigation system. While most Alabama counties use elected coroners, Bibb County switched to a medical examiner. This happened under Alabama Code Section 45-4-60.
This matters for Bibb County death certificates. The medical examiner signs off on certain types of deaths. When someone dies from violence, an accident, suicide, or suddenly without a clear cause, the medical examiner investigates. They determine the cause of death. They fill out that part of the certificate in Bibb County.
For natural deaths where a doctor was treating the person, the doctor signs the death certificate instead. But any unusual or unexpected death goes through the medical examiner in Alabama.
Understanding Death Certificates
Bibb County death certificates follow a standard format across the state. Here is what you will see on one.
The top has basic information. It shows the full name. It shows the date of birth. It shows the date of death. It shows where the death happened. It also shows the home address, Social Security number, race, and sex in Bibb County.
The middle section covers medical facts. This includes the cause of death. It includes any other conditions that played a role. It shows whether an autopsy was done. The doctor or medical examiner who certified the death is named here in Alabama.
The bottom part tells you about disposition. It says whether the body was buried or cremated. It names the funeral home. It gives the location of the grave or final resting place in Bibb County.
Alabama Vital Statistics Law
Bibb County death records are governed by the Alabama Vital Statistics Act of 1992. It is in Title 22, Chapter 9A of the Alabama Code.
Section 22-9A-14 requires that every death be registered within five days. The funeral home or whoever handles the body files the certificate. The doctor or medical examiner fills in the medical information. If the cause of death is not known right away, they mark it pending. They update it later in Alabama.
Section 22-9A-21 sets out who can get copies of Bibb County death certificates. It creates the 25 year confidentiality period. It lists who can get recent records.
Section 22-9A-22 says that certified copies are as good as the original document. Courts, banks, and insurance companies have to accept them as legal proof of death in Alabama.
Records Before 1908
Alabama did not start collecting vital records until January 1, 1908. If you need death information from before that date, you have to look elsewhere in Bibb County.
Church records are one option. Many churches kept track of deaths among their members. Cemetery records are another source. The sexton or caretaker often wrote down when people were buried in Alabama.
The Bibb County Probate Court has old estate files that mention death dates. Family bibles sometimes have handwritten death records. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery can point you to other sources in Bibb County.
Other Record Sources
The health department is the main place for Bibb County death certificates. However, other offices have related records too in Alabama.
The Bibb County Probate Court handles estates and wills. If someone died owning property, there may be a probate file. It has the death date and estate information in Bibb County.
Court records are available through Alacourt.com. You can find civil and criminal cases that might relate to a death in Alabama.
Old newspapers ran obituaries. The local library may have old issues on file. You can search for death notices in Bibb County.
Cities in Bibb County
Bibb County has several small communities. Centreville is the county seat. It is the largest town. Other places include Brent, West Blocton, and Woodstock. None of these have a population over 50,000. All residents go through the county health department for Bibb County death records in Alabama.