Cherokee County Death Records
Cherokee County death certificates are on file at the county health department in Centre. This northeastern Alabama county borders Georgia. Keep that in mind if you are searching for someone who may have died in either state. The health department uses the Alabama ViSION system to access Cherokee County death records from 1908 to present.
Cherokee County Quick Facts
Cherokee County Health Department
The Cherokee County Health Department is your source for death certificates. It is on Cedar Bluff Road in Centre. Centre is the county seat.
| Address | 833 Cedar Bluff Road Centre, AL 35960 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 927-3132 |
| Environmental | (256) 927-7322 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | Alabama Public Health - Cherokee County |
Staff at the health department can search the statewide database. They issue certified copies of Cherokee County death certificates for any Alabama death.
How to Request Death Certificates
You have three ways to get Cherokee County death certificates.
In Person
Walk into the health department with your photo ID. Fill out a request form. Give the name of the deceased. Give the date of death. Staff search the database. They print certified copies on the spot. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes in Cherokee County.
By Mail
Write a letter including the full name of the deceased. 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 above. Expect one to two weeks for processing in Alabama.
Online
Use VitalChek through the Alabama Center for Health Statistics website. Pay by credit card. Track your order. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the state fee in Cherokee County.
Eligibility
Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21 controls who can get Cherokee County death certificates.
Cherokee County death records over 25 years old are public. Anyone can request them in Alabama.
Cherokee County death records less than 25 years old are restricted. Eligible people include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, and grandchildren of the deceased. Estate lawyers qualify. Funeral directors qualify. Government workers on official duty qualify too. A court order lets anyone get a copy in Cherokee County.
Call ahead if you are not sure whether you qualify in Alabama.
Fees
Fees are set by the state. They are the same throughout Alabama. The fee structure is as follows:
| First Copy | $15.00 |
|---|---|
| Additional Copies | $6.00 each (same order) |
| Expedite | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment | $20.00 |
Order multiple copies at once to save. First is $15. Each extra is $6 in the same order. Fees are not refundable in Cherokee County.
Cherokee County Health Department in Centre handles death certificate requests.
Death Certificate Contents
Cherokee County death certificates have standard sections.
Top section shows basic facts. It shows the full name. It shows the date of birth. It shows the date of death. It shows the place of death. It shows the home address, Social Security number, race, and sex in Cherokee County.
Middle section covers medical info. It shows the cause of death. It shows contributing conditions. It shows autopsy status. It shows the certifying physician or coroner in Alabama.
Bottom section shows disposition info. This includes burial or cremation. This includes the funeral home. This includes the final resting place in Cherokee County.
Legal Framework
The Alabama Vital Statistics Act of 1992 in Title 22, Chapter 9A governs Cherokee County death records.
Section 22-9A-14 requires death registration within five days. Funeral homes file certificates. Doctors or coroners complete medical information in Alabama.
Section 22-9A-21 creates a 25 year confidentiality window. After that, Cherokee County death records are public.
Section 22-9A-22 gives certified copies the same legal standing as originals in Alabama.
Historical Records
Alabama began statewide vital records on January 1, 1908. No state Cherokee County death certificates exist for earlier deaths.
Registration was not fully effective until 1925. Records from 1908 to 1925 are incomplete in Cherokee County.
For pre-1908 deaths, check church records. Check cemetery logs. Check family bibles. Check the Probate Court. The Alabama Department of Archives and History can assist in Alabama.
Other Sources
Besides the health department, other offices have Cherokee County death related records.
Cherokee County Probate Court keeps estate and will records. They have death information in Cherokee County.
Court records are available through Alacourt.com in Alabama.
Cherokee County borders Georgia. If someone died across the state line, contact Georgia vital records instead of Alabama.
Local newspapers published obituaries. Libraries may have archives available for searching in Cherokee County.
Cities in Cherokee County
Cherokee County has several small communities. Centre is the county seat. Other towns include Cedar Bluff, Leesburg, Piedmont, and Sand Rock. None have a population over 50,000. All residents use the county health department for Cherokee County death records in Alabama.