Find DeKalb County Death Records

DeKalb County death records are at the county health department in Fort Payne. The staff connect to the state ViSION database. This lets them look up and print death certificates for deaths anywhere in Alabama. Records go back to 1908. That is when Alabama started requiring death registration. DeKalb County death certificates for deaths more than 25 years ago are open to anyone. Recent records stay restricted in Alabama.

DeKalb County Health Department

The DeKalb County Health Department is on Calvin Drive in Fort Payne. This office handles vital records. That includes death certificates, birth records, and marriage documents in DeKalb County. Staff use the Alabama ViSION system to search records. They can print certified copies on the spot. Most walk-in visits take about 20 to 30 minutes in Alabama.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. This is a must. For restricted DeKalb County death records from the past 25 years, you need proof of your tie to the person who died. You can use your own birth certificate to show the same parents. A marriage license works if you were the spouse. Court papers work if you are the estate rep in Alabama.

How to Request a Death Certificate

DeKalb County residents can get death certificates in several ways. Each has trade-offs on speed, cost, and ease in Alabama.

In Person at Fort Payne

Going to the DeKalb County Health Department is the fastest way. Staff can search the database and print your copy while you wait. Bring cash, check, or money order to pay. You need the full name of the person who died. You need their date of death or a close guess. You need the county where they died if it was not DeKalb County.

Mail Order to State Office

The Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery takes mail requests. You can use this for DeKalb County death records or any county in Alabama. Fill out form HS-14 from the ADPH website. Mail it with a check or money order to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Make the check out to Center for Health Statistics. Plan for 7 to 10 days, plus mailing time to DeKalb County.

Online Through VitalChek

VitalChek is the official online vendor for Alabama. You can pay by card. You can choose shipping speed. The service costs more due to fees. Expect to pay around $40 or more total. Standard orders take about 7 to 10 days to arrive in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Death Certificate Fees

Alabama Code Section 22-9A-23 gives the State Board of Health authority to set fees. The same fees apply at all county health departments in Alabama. They also apply at the state office.

Fees are not refundable in DeKalb County. If the search finds no match, you get a Certificate of Failure to Find. Make sure your details are right before paying in Alabama.

Who Can Request DeKalb County Death Records

The rules depend on when the person died in Alabama. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death records stay private for 25 years. After 25 years, anyone can request copies of DeKalb County death records.

For deaths in the past 25 years, only certain people may request DeKalb County death certificates:

• Spouse of the person who died
• Parents of the person who died
• Adult children of the person who died
• Brothers and sisters of the person who died
• Grandchildren of the person who died
• Legal reps with proper papers
• The informant named on the certificate

Others with a direct stake may also qualify in DeKalb County. Insurance companies often have valid reasons. Funeral homes do too. So do attorneys handling estates in Alabama. Government agencies can access records for official duties.

Historical Death Records in DeKalb County

Alabama began statewide death registration on January 1, 1908. Full compliance took time. About 90 percent of deaths were recorded by 1925 in Alabama. For DeKalb County deaths before 1908, you need other record types.

The probate court is a good place to start. Estate files, wills, and guardianship records often mention death dates in DeKalb County. Church records of funerals and burials can help. Cemetery records and tombstone readings give death dates for many people in Alabama.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery holds microfilm of early county records. Staff can help you search newspapers, census records, and other sources. They offer free access to Ancestry.com in their research room for DeKalb County research.

FamilySearch provides a free database of Alabama Deaths from 1908 to 1974. You can search by name. You can view digital images of the original certificates. The collection includes over 1.8 million names in Alabama.

Death Investigation in DeKalb County

When someone dies under a doctor's care from natural causes, the process is simple. The doctor signs the death certificate. The funeral home files it with the state in Alabama. Alabama Code Section 22-9A-14 requires filing within five days.

The DeKalb County Coroner investigates certain deaths. These include deaths from violence, accidents, suicide, and sudden cases. The coroner is an elected official in DeKalb County. They look at the facts. They decide if an autopsy is needed. Autopsies are done by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

DeKalb County falls in the region served by the Huntsville forensic lab. When an autopsy is ordered, the body goes to Huntsville in Alabama. The coroner then uses the findings to complete the cause and manner of death for DeKalb County.

Nearby Counties

DeKalb County sits in the northeast corner of Alabama. It touches the Georgia and Tennessee state lines. These nearby counties also have health departments for death certificate requests in Alabama.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes Fort Payne, Rainsville, Collinsville, Sylvania, Mentone, and other towns. Fort Payne is the county seat. It is also the largest city. No cities in DeKalb County reach the 50,000 threshold for a city page.

For DeKalb County death records of anyone who died here, visit the health department at the Fort Payne address above. The nearest major city with its own page is Huntsville. It is about 60 miles west in Alabama.