Sumter County Death Records

Sumter County death records are at the health department in Livingston. This county is on the Mississippi border. It has about 12,200 people. The state ViSION system lets staff pull up death certificates for anywhere in Alabama.

Sumter County Health Department

The Sumter County Health Department handles death certificate requests. The office is on North Washington Street in Livingston. Staff can search the state database and print copies while you wait. Most requests take 15 to 30 minutes in Sumter County.

You can get Sumter County death records here. You can also request records from other Alabama counties at this same office. The system is statewide.

How to Get a Death Certificate

There are three ways to get Sumter County death records. Pick what works for you.

Walk In to the Health Department

Going in person is fastest. Visit the office in Livingston. 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 Sumter County.

Cash, check, and money order work. The process takes about 15 to 30 minutes. You leave with your Sumter County death certificate that same day.

Send a Letter to Montgomery

Mail your request to the Center for Health Statistics. The address is P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Include the full name of the deceased. Add the death date and place. State your tie to them. Send 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.

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 beyond the state price. Standard takes about one week for Sumter County death records.

Who Can Get Death Records

The rules depend on when the person died. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death records are private for 25 years. After that, anyone can get a copy in Sumter County. No reason is needed.

During the 25-year restricted period, only some 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 estate or family
• The informant who signed the form
• Government agencies on official business

Others may qualify with proof of a personal or property interest. Bring your documents. Commercial firms wanting bulk data or mailing lists cannot get Sumter County death records in Alabama.

Fee Schedule

Death certificate fees are set by the State Board of Health. They are the same across all 67 counties in Alabama. Sumter County charges the standard rates.

If no record is found, you still pay. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find instead. Fees are nonrefundable in Alabama. VitalChek adds service fees on top of state rates.

Historical Death Records

Alabama began death registration January 1, 1908. It took time for full compliance. 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 Sumter County.

Finding death records before 1908 takes more work. 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 of early registers that exist.

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

• Probate court records with wills, estates, and guardianships
• Church burial records from Livingston and nearby towns
• Cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions
• Old newspaper obituaries from Sumter 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 entries. You can search by name and view images of Sumter County death certificates.

Death Investigation

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

When an autopsy is needed, the coroner can request one. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences runs the labs. Sumter County cases 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 Sumter County.

Alabama Death Record Law

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

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

These rules apply statewide in Alabama. The full text is on the Alabama Legislature website.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County has no cities over 50,000 people. Livingston is the county seat with about 3,200 residents. The University of West Alabama is there. York, Cuba, and Geiger are other towns in Sumter County. The health department in Livingston handles all Sumter County death records.

Tuscaloosa is the nearest large city. It is in Tuscaloosa County. For records from there, see our Tuscaloosa city page.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County is on the Mississippi border in western Alabama. Nearby counties may have records for family who lived in this region.

Start Your Search

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