Lauderdale County Death Index
Lauderdale County death records are at the health department in Florence. Staff can find death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Alabama.
Lauderdale County Quick Facts
Lauderdale County Health Department
The Lauderdale County Health Department is on Chisholm Road in Florence. About 93,000 people live in Lauderdale County. The area sits in northwest Alabama near the Tennessee River. This part of the state is known as the Shoals. Florence is the county seat and the biggest city here.
The health department uses the state ViSION system. Staff can look up Lauderdale County death certificates and print them for you. They follow state rules for who can get copies of death records. Most people who need a death certificate go in person. Staff can print records in 30 minutes if the death is in the system in Alabama.
| Physical Address | 4112 Chisholm Road Florence, AL 35630 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 3569 Florence, AL 35630 |
| Phone | (256) 764-7453 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | alabamapublichealth.gov/lauderdale |
How to Request Death Certificates
You can get Lauderdale County death records in three ways. Each has its own speed and cost. Pick the one that works best for you.
In Person at the Health Department
Go in person. This is the fast way. Bring a photo ID like a license. Know the name of the person who died. You need the date of death and their age too. Staff can print the record while you wait. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes in Lauderdale County. You can pay with cash, check, or money order in Alabama.
By Mail
Send your request to Montgomery. The state office is the Center for Health Statistics. Download the form from the state health site. Fill it out. Add a check 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.
Online Ordering
VitalChek is the state vendor. Go to their site or call 1-888-279-9888. You can use a credit or debit card. Standard orders take 7 to 10 days. Rush orders cost more. VitalChek adds fees on top of the $15 state fee. This is a good choice if you cannot visit Lauderdale County in person.
Who Can Get Death Records
State law sets rules for Lauderdale County death records. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates 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 Lauderdale County death certificates. The list is shown below:
- Parents of the person who died
- Spouse of the deceased
- Children and grandchildren
- Brothers and sisters
- Legal reps for the estate
- The informant named on the certificate
- Anyone with a direct interest in Alabama
State and local agencies can get records for work. Researchers may ask for data with a written deal. Firms cannot get records for marketing lists in Lauderdale County.
Death Certificate Fees
The State Board of Health sets fees for Lauderdale County death records. Alabama Code Section 22-9A-23 controls these rates. They are the same at any county office or the state office in Alabama.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Search with one certified copy | $15.00 |
| Additional copies in same order | $6.00 each |
| Expedited processing | $15.00 extra |
| Amendment or correction | $20.00 |
You pay even if no record is found. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find. Fees are not given back in Lauderdale County. VitalChek adds its own charges in Alabama.
Historical Death Records
Alabama started death records on January 1, 1908. Lauderdale County death records from that date are at the state office in Montgomery. Records over 25 years old are now public in Alabama.
To find death info from before 1908, you must look at other sources. Some early death logs exist from 1881, but not all deaths were in them. Good places to search for old Lauderdale County death records are listed below:
- Probate court records with wills and estates
- Church records of burials
- Cemetery records and tombstones
- Newspaper obituaries
- Federal mortality schedules from 1850 to 1880
The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm of old records. FamilySearch has a free database called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. It has images of death certificates in Alabama.
Death Investigations
The Lauderdale County Coroner looks into certain deaths. These include deaths from violence, accidents, suicide, or unknown causes. Alabama uses an elected coroner system in most counties. The coroner finds the cause and manner of death in Lauderdale County.
If an autopsy is needed, the coroner works with the state. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences runs the Huntsville lab. This lab serves Lauderdale County. They handle autopsies and forensic tests for death cases in Alabama.
Nearby Counties
Lauderdale County borders Tennessee and other Alabama counties. All county health departments use the same state database. You can get death records from any site in Alabama.
Start Your Search
Use the tool below to find death records in Lauderdale County or other parts of Alabama.