Randolph County Death Records

Randolph County death certificates are at the health department in Roanoke. The office uses the state ViSION system. You can get records for deaths anywhere in Alabama here. Records go back to 1908 in Randolph County.

Randolph County Health Department

The Randolph County Health Department handles death certificate requests. The office is on Main Street in Roanoke. Roanoke is the largest city in Randolph County, though Wedowee is the county seat. Staff can search the state database and print certified copies while you wait.

Most requests take 15 to 30 minutes in Randolph County. You can get death records for other Alabama counties from this same office. The system is statewide.

Getting a Death Certificate

There are three ways to get Randolph County death records. Pick what fits your needs best.

Go to the Health Department

Walking in is the fastest way. Bring a photo ID. Give the clerk the name of the person who died. Add the death date if you know it. Tell them where the death happened. Staff will search and print your copy on the spot in Randolph County.

Cash, check, and money order work for payment. The whole process takes about 15 to 30 minutes. You leave with your Randolph County death certificate the same day.

Mail to Montgomery

Send a letter to the Center for Health Statistics. The address is P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Write out the full name of the deceased. Add the death date and place. State your tie to them. Include a copy of your ID and a check made to Center for Health Statistics in Alabama.

Allow 7 to 10 business days for processing. Mail time adds more days on top of that.

Order Through VitalChek

VitalChek runs online orders for Alabama. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888. Pay by credit or debit card. Pick your shipping speed. VitalChek adds fees on top of the state price. Standard orders take about one week for Randolph County death records.

Who Can Get Death Records

Access rules depend on how old the record is. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death records are private for 25 years. After that, anyone can get a copy in Randolph County. No reason is needed.

During the 25-year restricted period, only certain people can get certified copies in Alabama:

• Spouse of the deceased
• Parents of the deceased
• Adult children of the deceased
• Brothers and sisters of the deceased
• Grandchildren of the deceased
• Legal reps for the family or estate
• The informant who signed the form
• Government agencies on official business

Others with a valid personal or property interest may qualify too. Bring proof. Commercial firms cannot get bulk Randolph County death records or use them for mailing lists in Alabama.

Fee Schedule

Death certificate fees are set by the State Board of Health. They apply to all 67 counties in Alabama. Randolph County charges the same as everywhere else.

If no record is found, you still pay. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find instead. Fees are not refundable in Alabama. VitalChek adds its own charges on top of these state fees.

Historical Death Records

Statewide death registration started January 1, 1908 in Alabama. Full compliance took time. By 1925, about 90 percent of deaths were filed. All records from 1908 on are in the state system. Records over 25 years old are public in Randolph County.

Deaths before 1908 are harder to track. Some county health officers kept local registers as early as 1881 in Alabama. Not all did. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm copies of early registers that exist.

For pre-1908 death info in Randolph County, try these sources:

• Probate court records with wills and estate files
• Church records from Wedowee, Roanoke, and nearby towns
• Cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions
• Old newspaper obituaries from Randolph County papers
• Federal mortality schedules from 1850 through 1880

FamilySearch has a free collection called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. It has over 1.8 million names with images of original Randolph County death certificates. Start your genealogy search there.

Death Investigation

The Randolph County Coroner looks into certain deaths. Deaths from violence, accidents, suicide, and sudden causes go to the coroner. The coroner finds the cause and manner of death. Alabama uses an elected coroner system in Randolph County.

When an autopsy is needed, the coroner can request one. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences runs the labs. Cases from Randolph County usually go to the Montgomery lab.

State law says some deaths must go to the coroner right away in Alabama. These include deaths from injury, deaths in custody, deaths during surgery, and sudden deaths with no clear cause. Funeral homes must wait for coroner sign-off before burial or cremation in Randolph County.

Alabama Law on Death Records

The Alabama Vital Statistics Act covers death records. You find it in Title 22, Chapter 9A of the Alabama Code. Key sections that affect Randolph County death records include:

• Section 22-9A-14: Deaths must be filed within five days
• Section 22-9A-21: Sets the 25-year privacy period and lists who can access restricted records
• Section 22-9A-22: Lets county health departments issue certified copies
• Section 22-9A-23: Sets the fee structure

These rules apply to all 67 counties in Alabama. The full text is on the Alabama Legislature website.

Cities in Randolph County

Randolph County has no cities above 50,000 people. Wedowee is the county seat with about 800 residents. Roanoke is the largest city with roughly 6,000 people. Woodland, Graham, and Wadley are other towns in Randolph County. The health department in Roanoke handles all Randolph County death records.

Auburn is the nearest major city. It is in Lee County. For records from that area, see our Auburn city page.

Nearby Counties

Randolph County is in eastern Alabama near the Georgia border. Nearby counties may have records for family who lived in this region.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to find death records in Randolph County or other parts of Alabama.