Calhoun County Death Index
Calhoun County death records can be obtained from the county health department in Anniston. This is one of the larger counties in Alabama by population. The health department handles a high volume of vital records requests. They use the Alabama ViSION database. They can look up Calhoun County death certificates from anywhere in the state.
Calhoun County Quick Facts
Calhoun County Health Department
The Calhoun County Health Department handles death certificate requests for county residents. It is on McClellan Boulevard in Anniston. Anniston is the county seat.
| Address | 3400 McClellan Boulevard Anniston, AL 36201 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 237-7523 |
| Environmental Division | (256) 237-4324 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | Alabama Public Health - Calhoun County |
The health department is part of the Alabama Department of Public Health. It uses the statewide ViSION system. Staff can search for Calhoun County death records from anywhere in Alabama. They print certified copies.
How to Get Death Certificates
You have three options for requesting Calhoun County death certificates.
In Person
Walk in with your ID to the health department on McClellan Boulevard. Fill out the vital records request form. Give the name of the deceased. Give the date of death. Staff search the database. They print certified copies while you wait. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes. It depends on how busy they are in Calhoun County.
By Mail
Send a letter to the health department. Include the full name of the person who died. Include the date of death. Include the place of death if known. Include your name and address. Add a check or money order payable to Alabama Department of Public Health. Mail it to the address listed above. Plan for one to two weeks to get your Calhoun County death certificate in Alabama.
Online
Alabama uses VitalChek for online orders. Visit the Alabama Center for Health Statistics website. Click the link to order vital records. Pay by credit card. Track your order. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the state fee in Calhoun County.
Eligibility Rules
Alabama law restricts who can get Calhoun County death certificates. The rules are found in Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21.
Calhoun County death records more than 25 years old are public records. Anyone can request them. You do not need to show a reason or relationship in Alabama.
Calhoun County death records less than 25 years old are confidential. Only certain people can get them. Eligible requesters include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, and grandchildren of the deceased. Lawyers handling estates qualify. Funeral directors qualify. Government workers on official business qualify too. A court order allows anyone to obtain a copy in Calhoun County.
Questions about eligibility? Call the health department. They can tell you what proof you need to bring in Alabama.
Fees
Calhoun County death certificate fees are set statewide. They are the same in every Alabama county. The fee structure is as follows:
| First Copy | $15.00 |
|---|---|
| Additional Copies | $6.00 each (same order) |
| Expedite Service | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment | $20.00 |
Order multiple copies at once to save money. First copy is $15. Additional copies in the same order are only $6 each. Most people need several copies for insurance, banks, and settling estates in Calhoun County.
Fees are not refundable. If the search comes up empty, you still pay. You receive a Certificate of Failure to Find in Alabama.
The Calhoun County Health Department in Anniston handles death certificate requests.
What Death Certificates Contain
Calhoun County death certificates follow a standard format. They have several sections of information.
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 the place of death. It also shows the home address, Social Security number, race, and sex of the deceased in Calhoun County.
The middle section contains medical information. This includes cause of death. It includes contributing conditions. It shows whether an autopsy was done. The certifying doctor or coroner signs this section in Alabama.
The bottom section covers disposition. It tells whether the body was buried or cremated. It names the funeral home. It gives the location of remains in Calhoun County.
Alabama Vital Records Law
Calhoun County death records are governed by the Alabama Vital Statistics Act of 1992. It is found in Title 22, Chapter 9A of the Alabama Code.
Section 22-9A-14 requires registration of every death within five days. The funeral home files the certificate. A doctor or coroner completes the medical section. If cause of death is unknown, they mark it pending in Alabama.
Section 22-9A-21 establishes the 25 year confidentiality period. Calhoun County death records are restricted for 25 years from the death date. Then they become public records in Calhoun County.
Section 22-9A-22 says certified copies have the same legal weight as the original record. Courts, banks, and insurance companies must accept them in Alabama.
Historical Records
Alabama began statewide vital records collection on January 1, 1908. Deaths before that date do not have state Calhoun County death certificates.
Even after 1908, registration was incomplete at first. The state estimates 90% compliance by 1925. Records from 1908 to 1925 may or may not exist in Calhoun County.
For pre-1908 deaths in Calhoun County, check church records. Check cemetery logs. Check family bibles. The Probate Court has old estate files that list death dates. The Alabama Department of Archives and History can assist with historical research in Alabama.
Additional Record Sources
The health department is the main source for Calhoun County death certificates. Other offices have related records too.
The Calhoun County Circuit Court has a public access terminal for court records. You can also access court records online through Alacourt.com in Alabama.
The Calhoun County Probate Court keeps estate and will records. These files often contain death dates. They contain estate information in Calhoun County.
Local newspapers published obituaries. The Anniston Star and other papers ran death notices. Libraries may have old issues available for searching in Alabama.
Cities in Calhoun County
Calhoun County has several cities and towns. Anniston is the county seat. Other communities include Oxford, Jacksonville, Piedmont, and Weaver. None have a population over 50,000. All residents use the county health department for Calhoun County death records in Alabama.