Access Talladega County Death Records

Talladega County death certificates come from the health department. This county has about 82,500 people. The famous Talladega Superspeedway is here. The county has two branch offices that can help with Talladega County death records.

Talladega County Health Department Locations

Talladega County has two health department offices. Pick the one that works for you. Both connect to the same statewide database. Staff can print certified copies while you wait in Talladega County.

Talladega Branch

Sylacauga Branch

For more info, visit the Talladega County Health Department website.

How to Request Death Certificates

You have three ways to get Talladega County death records. Pick what works for you.

In Person at Either Office

Walking in is fastest. Go to the Talladega or Sylacauga branch. Bring a photo ID. Give the clerk the name of the person who died. Add the death date and place if you know them. Staff will search and print your copy on the spot in Talladega County.

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

Mail to the State Office

Send a letter 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.

Processing takes 7 to 10 business days after they get your letter.

Order Online

VitalChek is the state vendor for online orders. 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 Talladega County death records.

Who Is Eligible for Records

Access depends on how old the record is. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are private for 25 years. After that, anyone can get a copy in Talladega 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 handling the estate
• The informant on the certificate
• Government agencies with official duties

Others may qualify with proof of a personal or property interest. Bring your documents. Commercial firms cannot get bulk Talladega County death records or use them for mailing lists in Alabama.

Death Certificate Fees

Fees are the same across all 67 counties in Alabama. Talladega County charges the standard rates set by the Board of Health.

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 service fees on top of state fees.

Historical and Older Records

Statewide death registration started January 1, 1908 in Alabama. Full compliance came slowly. 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 Talladega County.

For deaths before 1908, you need other sources. 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.

Try these sources for pre-1908 Talladega County death info:

• Probate court records with wills and estates
• Church burial records from Talladega, Sylacauga, and nearby towns
• Cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions
• Old newspaper obituaries from the area
• Federal mortality schedules from 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880

FamilySearch has a free collection called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. It has over 1.8 million names with scanned images of Talladega County death certificates.

Death Investigation in the County

The Talladega 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 Talladega County.

When an autopsy is needed, the coroner can request one. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences runs the labs. Talladega County cases usually go to the Birmingham or 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 known cause. Funeral homes must wait for coroner sign-off before burial or cremation in Talladega County.

Alabama Death Record Laws

Death records in Alabama fall under the Alabama Vital Statistics Act. 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 and lists who can access restricted records
• Section 22-9A-22: Lets county offices issue certified copies
• Section 22-9A-23: Sets the fee schedule

These laws apply to all counties in Alabama. The full statutes are on the Alabama Legislature website.

Cities in Talladega County

Talladega County has no cities above 50,000 people. Talladega is the county seat with about 15,700 residents. Sylacauga has about 12,700 people. Lincoln has around 6,700. Childersburg, Munford, and Talladega Springs are other towns in Talladega County. The health department offices handle all Talladega County death records.

Birmingham is the nearest major city. It is in Jefferson County. For records from there, see our Birmingham city page.

Nearby Counties

Talladega County is in east-central Alabama. 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 Talladega County or other parts of Alabama.