Walker County Death Records

Walker County death records are available at the health department in Jasper. This northwest Alabama county has about 63,000 people. The area has a long coal mining history that goes back over 100 years. The health department connects to the statewide ViSION database, so staff can pull death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Alabama. Records go back to 1908 in the state system. Those more than 25 years old are open to the public in Walker County.

Walker County Health Department

The Walker County Health Department handles death certificate requests for this area. The office is on 20th Avenue East in Jasper, which is the county seat. When you come in person, staff can search the state database and print certified copies while you wait. Most requests take about 15 to 30 minutes to complete. This is usually the fastest way to get Walker County death records.

The office is easy to find in downtown Jasper. Parking is available near the building. Staff are used to helping people who need death records for legal or family matters in Alabama.

Getting a Death Certificate

You have several ways to request a death certificate from Walker County. Pick the method that suits your needs and schedule.

Visit the Health Department

Walking in is the fastest way. Go to the Walker County Health Department in Jasper. Bring a valid photo ID. You need to know the name of the person who died. Have the death date if you can. Tell staff where the death took place. They will search the ViSION system for you. You can pay with cash, check, or money order. Most searches take less than half an hour in Walker County.

Mail to Montgomery

Send your request to the Center for Health Statistics. The address is P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625. Write out the full name of the person who died. Add the date and place of death. Say how you are related to them. Include a copy of your photo ID. Send a check or money order made to Center for Health Statistics. Allow 7 to 10 business days for processing plus mail time in Alabama.

Order Through VitalChek

VitalChek runs the official online system for Alabama death certificates. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888. You can pay by credit or debit card. VitalChek adds service fees beyond the state price. Standard delivery takes about one week.

Who Can Get Death Records

Access rules for death certificates depend on how old the record is. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death records are private for 25 years from the death date. After 25 years, anyone can request a copy for any reason in Alabama.

During the 25-year restricted period, only certain people can get certified copies of Walker County death records:

• Spouse of the person who died
• Parents of the person who died
• Adult children of the person who died
• Brothers and sisters of the person who died
• Grandchildren of the person who died
• Legal reps for the estate
• The informant listed on the death certificate
• Government agencies with official duties

Others may qualify if they can show a personal or property interest. Bring documents to prove your need. Companies cannot get bulk records or mailing lists under state law in Alabama.

Fee Schedule

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

If no record is found, you pay the fee anyway. You get a Certificate of Failure to Find. Fees are not refundable. VitalChek adds its own service charges.

Historical Death Records

Alabama began statewide death registration on January 1, 1908. It took time for full compliance. By 1925, about 90 percent of deaths were being recorded in Alabama. All records from 1908 forward are in the state system. Records older than 25 years are public.

Deaths before 1908 require other research. Some county health officers kept local death registers starting around 1881, but not all did. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm of early registers that still exist. Coverage varies across Alabama.

For pre-1908 death information in Walker County, you can try these sources:

• Probate court records with wills and estates
• Church burial records from Jasper and nearby towns
• Cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions
• Old newspaper obituaries from Walker County papers
• Federal mortality schedules from 1850 through 1880
• Coal mining company records (may include worker deaths)

FamilySearch has a free database called Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974. It has over 1.8 million names with scanned images of original certificates.

Death Investigation

When someone in Walker County dies from violence, an accident, suicide, or suddenly without clear cause, the coroner steps in. The Walker County Coroner looks into these deaths. They find what caused the death and the manner of death. Alabama uses an elected coroner system in most counties.

The coroner can request an autopsy from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences if needed. Cases from Walker County typically go to the Birmingham lab. Autopsy results become part of the death record in Alabama.

State law says certain deaths must be reported to the coroner right away. This includes deaths from injury, deaths in custody, deaths during surgery, and sudden deaths with no clear cause. Funeral homes cannot move forward with burial or cremation until the coroner releases the body in Walker County.

Alabama Death Record Laws

Death certificates in Alabama fall under the Alabama Vital Statistics Act. You can find this in Title 22, Chapter 9A of the Alabama Code. The key sections that affect how you get death records are listed below:

• Section 22-9A-14: Deaths must be filed within five days
• Section 22-9A-21: Creates 25-year confidentiality and lists who can access restricted records
• Section 22-9A-22: Allows county health offices to issue certified copies
• Section 22-9A-23: Sets the fee schedule

These rules apply statewide. Full text is available on the Alabama Legislature website.

Cities in Walker County

Walker County has no cities above the 50,000 population mark. Jasper is the largest city and the county seat with about 14,300 people. Other towns include Sumiton, Carbon Hill, Oakman, and Cordova. The area has a strong coal mining heritage that shapes the community to this day. Death records for all areas of Walker County go through the health department in Jasper.

The nearest major city is Birmingham in Jefferson County. For records from that area, see our Birmingham city page.

Nearby Counties

Walker County sits in northwest Alabama. If researching family history in this area, you may need to check records in counties nearby. Here are the counties that border Walker County:

Start Your Search

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