Jefferson County Death Index
Jefferson County death records are kept at the county health department in Birmingham. This is the most populous county in Alabama with over 660,000 people.
Jefferson County Facts
Jefferson County Health Department
The Jefferson County Department of Health runs its own vital records office. It is not part of the state system like most counties. However, staff can still use the ViSION database to find death records from other parts of Alabama. You can get Jefferson County death certificates at the main office in Birmingham.
This office handles a large number of requests each year. Birmingham is the biggest city in Alabama. The health department is on Sixth Avenue South. Staff can search for death records and print copies while you wait in Jefferson County.
| Office | Jefferson County Department of Health |
|---|---|
| Address | 1400 Sixth Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 |
| Phone | (205) 933-9110 |
| Vital Records | (205) 930-1106 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:15 PM |
To get a death certificate in Jefferson County, bring a photo ID. Know the name of the person who died. You also need the date of death and their Social Security Number if you have it. Staff can print your copy while you wait in Alabama.
How to Get Death Certificates in Jefferson County
You have a few ways to get Jefferson County death records. Each has its own speed and cost. Pick the one that works best for you.
Visit the Health Department
Go in person. This is the fast way. The vital records office is at 1400 Sixth Avenue South in Birmingham. Staff can search the database and print your copy while you wait. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes. Bring a photo ID. Know the name, death date, and age of the person. You can pay with cash, check, or money order in Jefferson County.
Order by Mail
Send a form to Montgomery. The state office is the Center for Health Statistics. Fill out form HS-14. Add a check or money order for $15. Make it out to Center for Health Statistics. Mail to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. It takes 7 to 10 days in Alabama.
Order Online
VitalChek has an online service. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888. You can use a credit card. Pick rush shipping if you need it fast. VitalChek adds fees on top of the state fee. This may be best if you cannot visit Jefferson County in person.
Who Can Request Jefferson County Death Certificates
Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death records stay private for 25 years. After that, anyone can get a copy. The record becomes public at that point in Alabama.
For deaths in the past 25 years, only some people may get Jefferson County death certificates. The list is shown below:
- Parents of the deceased
- Spouse of the deceased
- Children of the deceased
- Siblings of the deceased
- Grandchildren of the deceased
- Legal reps acting for the family or estate
- The informant listed on the certificate
Others may get copies if they can show a need. State and local agencies can get records for work. Researchers may ask for data with a written deal in Alabama.
Jefferson County Death Certificate Fees
Fees for Jefferson County death records follow the state schedule. Alabama Code Section 22-9A-23 sets these rates.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Search with one certified copy | $15.00 |
| Each additional copy (same order) | $6.00 |
| Expedited processing | $15.00 additional |
| Amendment | $20.00 |
You pay even if no record is found. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find. Fees are not given back in Jefferson County. VitalChek adds its own charges in Alabama.
Jefferson County Medical Examiner
Jefferson County has its own medical examiner office. It does not use the elected coroner system. The office is accredited by the National Association of Medical Examiners. They look at about 950 bodies each year in Jefferson County.
The medical examiner checks deaths from violence, accidents, suicide, and unknown causes. The office does autopsies when needed. They find the cause and manner of death in these cases. For other deaths, a doctor fills out the death certificate. The funeral home files it with the state in Alabama.
Historical Death Records in Jefferson County
Alabama started death records on January 1, 1908. Jefferson County death records from that date are in the state system. Staff at the health department can find them. Records over 25 years old are public in Alabama.
For deaths before 1908, you must look at other sources. Good places to search for old Jefferson County death records are listed below:
- Probate court records with wills and estates
- Cemetery records
- Church burial records
- Newspaper obituaries
The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm of old records. FamilySearch has a free database called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. It has over 1.8 million names and images in Alabama.
Search Death Records
Use the tool below to find death records in Jefferson County or other parts of Alabama.
Cities in Jefferson County
Jefferson County has over 35 cities and towns. Birmingham is the biggest city in Alabama. The county health department serves all cities for vital records in Jefferson County.
Other cities in Jefferson County include Bessemer, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Trussville, Gardendale, Center Point, Hueytown, Irondale, and Leeds in Alabama.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Jefferson County. You can get death records from any county health department in Alabama.