Morgan County Death Index
Morgan County death records are at the health department in Decatur. The office is on Highway 31 South. Staff can search the state database for any death in Alabama. Morgan County has about 122,000 people. It sits along the Tennessee River in north Alabama. Decatur is the county seat and has over 57,000 people.
Morgan County Quick Facts
Morgan County Health Department
The Morgan County Health Department handles death certificate requests. Staff use the ViSION system to search and print records. The office has a vital statistics phone line to help with requests. You can get death records for any death in Alabama here.
| Address | 3821 Highway 31 South Decatur, AL 35603 |
|---|---|
| General Phone | (256) 353-7021 |
| Clinical Services | (256) 560-6507 |
| Vital Statistics | (256) 560-6592 |
| Environmental | (256) 560-6563 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | alabamapublichealth.gov/morgan |
Morgan County Coroner's Office
The Morgan County Coroner looks into deaths from traumatic causes. This includes deaths from murder, suicide, accidents, car crashes, and drowning in Morgan County. The coroner finds the cause and manner of death. When an autopsy is needed, the case goes to the state lab.
| Website | morgancounty-al.gov/government/county-coroner |
|---|
How to Request Death Certificates
You can get Morgan County death certificates in several ways. Pick the one that fits your needs. Each method takes a different amount of time.
In Person at the Health Department
Going in person is the fastest way to get death records in Morgan County. Bring a photo ID like a driver's license. Know the full name of the dead person. Also know when they died and how old they were. If the death is in the state system, staff can print your copy while you wait. Most visits take 15 to 30 minutes. You can pay with cash, check, or money order.
By Mail
To order by mail, send a form to Montgomery. Get the death certificate form from the state health website. Fill it out and add a check for $15. Make it out to Center for Health Statistics. Mail to P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103. It takes 7 to 10 days to get your copy in Alabama.
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the state's online vendor. They take credit and debit cards. Go to their site or call 1-888-279-9888. Standard shipping takes 7 to 10 days. Rush options cost more. VitalChek adds fees on top of the state fee for death records.
Who Can Get Death Certificates
State law says who can get death records. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates stay private for 25 years. After that, anyone can ask for a copy in Alabama.
For deaths in the last 25 years, only these people can get copies in Morgan County:
- Parents of the dead person
- Spouse of the dead person
- Children and grandchildren
- Brothers and sisters
- Legal reps of the estate
- The informant on the certificate
- Anyone with a direct interest
State agencies can get records for their work. Researchers may get data with a written deal. Firms cannot get restricted death records for ads in Alabama.
Death Certificate Fees
The State Board of Health sets fees in Alabama. Alabama Code Section 22-9A-23 covers this. The same rates apply at all county health offices.
| 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 |
If no record is found, you still pay the search fee. You will get a Certificate of Failure to Find. Fees are not sent back. VitalChek orders cost more.
Historical Death Records
Alabama started keeping death records on January 1, 1908. Morgan County death certificates from that date are in Montgomery. Records over 25 years old are now public in Alabama.
Death info from before 1908 must come from other sources. Some county death logs go back to 1881, but they are not complete. These are good places to look for old Morgan County death records:
- Probate court wills and estate files
- Church burial records from Decatur area
- Cemetery records and tombstones
- Newspaper obits from Decatur Daily
- Federal mortality census from 1850 to 1880
The Alabama Archives has microfilm of many old records. FamilySearch has a free database called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. It has images of the original certificates.
Cities in Morgan County
Morgan County includes the city of Decatur. It is the county seat. Death certificates for all Morgan County residents go through the county health department.
Other towns in Morgan County include Hartselle, Priceville, Falkville, and various areas. All death records for these areas go through the Morgan County Health Department.
Nearby Counties
Morgan County borders several other north Alabama counties. All county health offices use the same database, so you can get death records from any spot in Alabama.
Start Your Search
Use the tool below to find death records in Morgan County or elsewhere in Alabama.