Search Blount County Death Records
Blount County death records are on file at the county health department in Oneonta. Staff can pull up records from 1908 to present through the Alabama ViSION database. Whether someone died in Blount County or somewhere else in the state, the health department can get you a certified copy.
Blount County Quick Facts
Blount County Health Department
The Blount County Health Department handles all death certificate requests for the county. It is located on Lincoln Avenue in Oneonta, the county seat. This is where you go for certified copies of Blount County death records.
| Address | 1001 Lincoln Avenue Oneonta, AL 35121 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 274-2120 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | Alabama Public Health - Blount County |
The health department is part of the Alabama Department of Public Health. It uses the state ViSION system for vital records. This means they can look up deaths from anywhere in Alabama, not just Blount County.
How to Get a Death Certificate
There are three main ways to get Blount County death certificates. Pick the one that works best for you.
Walk In Request
Going in person is the fastest way. Bring a photo ID to the health department on Lincoln Avenue. Fill out the vital records request form at the front desk. Give them the name of the person who died. Give them the date of death. They search the database. They print a certified copy while you wait. Most visits take about 20 minutes in Blount County.
Mail Request
You can mail in your request if you live far away. Write a letter that includes the full name of the deceased. Include the date of death. Include the place of death if you know it. Include your name and mailing address. Add a check or money order for the fee. Make it payable to Alabama Department of Public Health. Send it to the address above. Plan on one to two weeks for them to process it in Alabama.
Online Through VitalChek
Alabama uses VitalChek for online vital records orders. Go to the Center for Health Statistics website. Look for the online ordering link. You can pay with a credit card. You can track your order. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the state fee. However, some people prefer the convenience in Blount County.
Who Can Request Death Certificates
Alabama puts limits on who can get Blount County death certificates. It depends on how old the record is. The rules are in Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21.
Records more than 25 years old are public. Anyone can order a copy. You do not need to prove you are related to the deceased. You do not need any special reason in Alabama.
Records less than 25 years old are restricted. Only certain people can get them. The surviving spouse qualifies. Parents qualify. Children qualify. Brothers, sisters, and grandchildren qualify. Lawyers working on estates qualify. Funeral directors qualify. Government workers doing their jobs qualify. A court order lets anyone get a copy in Blount County.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the health department. They can tell you what documentation you need to bring in Alabama.
Fees for Death Certificates
The state sets fees for Blount County death certificates. They are the same amount as every other county. The fee structure is as follows:
| First Certified Copy | $15.00 |
|---|---|
| Each Additional Copy | $6.00 (same order) |
| Expedite Processing | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment Fee | $20.00 |
Order multiple copies if you need them. The first one is $15. Extras are just $6 each if you get them at the same time. Many people need several copies for insurance claims, bank accounts, and settling estates in Blount County.
Fees are not refundable. If they search and do not find the record, you still pay. They give you a Certificate of Failure to Find. This documents that you looked in Alabama.
The Blount County Health Department in Oneonta processes death certificate requests.
What is on a Death Certificate
Blount County death certificates contain a lot of information about the deceased. Here is what you find on them.
The top section has basic facts. It shows the full legal name. It shows the date of birth. It shows the date of death. It shows where death occurred. It also shows the home address, Social Security number, race, and sex in Blount County.
The middle part covers medical information. This includes the cause of death. It includes any contributing conditions. It shows whether an autopsy was performed. The doctor or coroner who certified the death signs this section in Alabama.
The bottom section is about disposition. It tells you whether the body was buried or cremated. It names the funeral home. It says where the remains were placed. This can help if you are trying to locate a grave in Blount County.
Alabama Law on Death Records
The rules for Blount County death certificates come from the Alabama Vital Statistics Act of 1992. It is in Title 22, Chapter 9A of the Alabama Code.
Section 22-9A-14 requires every death to be registered with the state within five days. The funeral home files the certificate. A doctor or coroner fills out the medical part. If the cause of death is not known right away, they mark it pending. They add more information later in Alabama.
Section 22-9A-21 creates the 25 year privacy rule. Blount County death records stay confidential for 25 years after the death date. After that they become public records. During the confidential period, only family members and authorized persons can get copies in Blount County.
Section 22-9A-22 says certified copies are just as good as the original for legal purposes. Courts, banks, insurance companies, and government agencies have to accept them in Alabama.
Historical Death Records
Alabama started keeping statewide vital records on January 1, 1908. Before that date, there are no state Blount County death certificates.
Even after 1908, it took years to get full compliance. The state estimates that 90% of deaths were being registered by 1925. So records from 1908 to 1925 might exist. Or they might not in Blount County.
For pre-1908 deaths in Blount County, check church records. Check cemetery logs. Check family bibles. The Probate Court has old estate files that often list death dates. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has some early records. They can help with research in Alabama.
Other Places for Death Information
The health department is the primary source for Blount County death certificates. However, other offices have useful records too in Alabama.
The Blount County Probate Court keeps records on wills and estates. If someone died with property, there is probably a probate file. The file includes the death date. It includes information about the estate in Blount County.
Court records are online through Alacourt.com. You can search for civil and criminal cases. These might have information about a death in Alabama.
Local newspapers published obituaries. The Blount Countian and other papers ran death notices for many years. The Oneonta Public Library may have old issues you can search in Blount County.
Cities in Blount County
Blount County has several towns and communities. Oneonta is the county seat. Other places include Hayden, Cleveland, Locust Fork, and Snead. None have a population over 50,000. All Blount County residents get death certificates through the county health department in Alabama.