Search Washington County Death Records

Washington County death records are issued through the health department in Chatom. This southwest Alabama county has about 16,300 people. It is the oldest county in the state, formed on June 4, 1800. The health department connects to the statewide ViSION database, so you can request death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Alabama. Records go back to 1908 in the state system. Those older than 25 years are open to the public in Washington County.

Washington County Health Department

The Washington County Health Department handles death certificate requests for this area. The office sits on St. Stephens Avenue in Chatom, the county seat. When you visit in person, staff can search the state database and print certified copies while you wait. Most requests take about 15 to 30 minutes. This is usually the fastest way to get Washington County death records.

Chatom is a small town but easy to find. The health department has parking on site. Staff are used to helping folks who need death records for legal or family matters in Alabama.

How to Get Death Certificates

There are three main ways to request a death certificate in Washington County. The method you pick depends on your schedule and how soon you need the document.

Walk In to the Health Department

Going in person is the fastest option. Visit the Washington County Health Department in Chatom during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. 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 and print your certified copy while you wait. You can pay with cash, check, or money order in Washington County.

Mail Your Request

You can send a written 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. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days after receipt in Alabama.

Order Online

VitalChek is the official vendor for online death certificate orders in Alabama. Go to vitalchek.com or call 1-888-279-9888. You can pay by credit or debit card and pick your shipping option. VitalChek adds extra fees beyond the state price. Standard orders take about one week.

Who Is Eligible for Death Records

Access to death certificates in Alabama depends on how old the record is. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death records are private for 25 years from the date of death. After that time passes, anyone can request a copy in Alabama.

During the 25-year restricted period, only certain people can get certified copies of Washington 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 named on the certificate
• Government agencies for official business

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

Death Certificate Fees

Fees for death certificates are set statewide by the Board of Health. Washington County charges the same rates as every other county in Alabama.

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

Historical Death Records

Statewide death registration in Alabama started on January 1, 1908. Full compliance built up over time. By 1925, about 90 percent of deaths were being recorded in Alabama. All records from 1908 to the present are in the state system. Records older than 25 years are public.

Washington County is the oldest county in Alabama, so there is a lot of history here that predates statewide records. Some county health officers kept local death registers starting around 1881, but coverage varied. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm of early county registers that survive. This county has deep roots going back to the early 1800s.

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

• Probate court records with wills and estate files
• Church burial records from Chatom and nearby towns
• Cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions
• Old newspaper obituaries from local papers
• Federal mortality schedules from 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880

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

Death Investigation Process

When someone in Washington County dies from violence, an accident, suicide, or suddenly without clear cause, the coroner steps in. The Washington County Coroner looks into these deaths. They find the official cause and 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 the cause of death is unclear. Cases from Washington County go to the Mobile regional 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 medical procedures, and sudden deaths without known cause. Funeral homes cannot move forward with burial or cremation until the coroner signs off in Washington County.

Alabama Death Record Law

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

These laws apply to every Alabama county. The full statutes are on the Alabama Legislature website.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County has no cities above 50,000 in population. Chatom is the county seat with about 1,200 people. Other towns include McIntosh, Millry, Citronelle (which is partly in Mobile County), and Fruitdale. This is a rural part of southwest Alabama. Death records for all areas of Washington County go through the health department in Chatom.

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

Nearby Counties

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

Start Your Search

Use the search form below to find death records in Washington County or elsewhere in Alabama.