How to Find Alabama Birth Records

Are Birth Records Public in Alabama

No. Birth records in Alabama are confidential records. By confidential, it means it is not accessible to everyone except restricted individuals within 125 years from the date of birth of the person whose name is on the certificate. Birth records such as birth certificates can only be accessed by persons named on the certificates, parents or legal guardians, spouses, children, siblings of the person whose name appears on the certificate, and the legal representatives of any authorized persons.

Birth certificates can be accessed by mail, online, or in person from the Alabama Department of Public Health and the County Health Department within the state.

What are Birth Records in Alabama?

A birth record is the official documentation of the identity and birth of an individual. An Alabama birth record contains information about the child, mother, and father. It also contains health information that can be used for statistical purposes. Proper documentation of births is effective in the government's plan of adequately delivering services and allocating resources across the state.

A certified copy of a birth record can be used for travel passport, proof of citizenship, social security, school registration, driver's license, personal identification, and other legal purposes. An Alabama birth record proves Alabama citizenship and United States citizenship.

Commonly included in Alabama birth records are:

Date of birth
Time of birth
Place of birth
Child's full name
Mother's name
Father's name
Child's gender
Type of birth
Mother's marital status
Birth registration number

Where to Find Public Birth Records in Alabama

Birth records in Alabama are not public. Therefore, there are no public birth records in the state. As earlier said, birth records in the State are tagged confidential and can only be accessed by the public after 125 years from the time the person whose name appears on it was born. Only the person whose name is on the certificate, family members, and legal representatives can access birth records.

How to Find and Request Birth Records Online in Alabama?

Alabama birth records are not open to public access. Hence, members of the public cannot look up birth records online. Through Alabama's partnership with an independent company, qualified requesters can obtain birth records online. Additional fees are charged by the company for the service provided.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

How to Get Birth Records in Alabama?

Alabama began maintaining birth records in 1908 for persons born in the state. By law, birth records are classified as confidential and have restricted access for 125 years from the date of birth. Since May 1, 2017, Alabama has required proper identification from requesters before they can obtain birth records. Applicants are required to submit a completed request and one form of identification from the Primary Identification list. If an applicant cannot provide identification from the Primary ID list, two different forms of ID from the Secondary ID list must be provided. If an applicant designates another person to pick up a birth record, both the applicant and the designee must provide acceptable identification.

The Primary Identification list comprises:

Alabama Driver's License
Out-of-State Driver's License
State-Issued Non-Driver ID
The U.S. or Foreign Passport
U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
U.S. Military ID
Work ID (If the applicant is an employee of the agency/company making a request)
Alien Resident Card (Temporary or Permanent)
U.S. Employment Authorization Card
Citizenship ID Card
Tribal ID
Pilot's License
Boating License
Concealed Weapons License
Ex-Felon ID
Inmate ID issued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice with the following documentation:
- Supporting documents from the institution if an inmate is still in custody
- Letter of release from the institution if an inmate has been released
School ID (Must include current school term)
Alabama Voter Identification Card

The Secondary Identification list includes:

Expired, Government-Issued ID
Utility Bill (No more than 6 months old)
Work ID (If the applicant is making a personal request)
Vehicle Registration or Vehicle Title
Property Tax Bill
Military Discharge (DD Form 214)
Voter Registration Card
Health Insurance Card
Social Security Correspondence (not Card)
U.S. Selective Service Card
Recent DMV Receipt for Fines Paid
Fishing or Hunting License
Copy of Police Report or other official documents which support theft, in cases where individual's ID has been stolen
Autism Spectrum Card
Immunization (Shot) Record

Any requester that cannot provide any of the acceptable forms of identification may contact the Alabama Center for Health Statistics at (334) 206-5418 for further help.

Requesters must also provide as much information as possible to complete a search request. These include:

Full name of the person at birth
Date of birth
Sex
County or city of birth
Hospital of birth - if not in a hospital state "home"
Full name of mother/parent before first marriage
Full name of father/parent before first marriage
Requester’s name
Requester’s signature
Requester’s relationship to the person whose certificate is being requested
Address where the certificate is to be mailed
Requester’s daytime phone number

Apostilled and exemplified copies of birth records are also issued to individuals who need such. These types of authenticated birth records are routinely required for foreign use. They are signed by the State Registrar and an additional certification provided by the Alabama Secretary of State. Apostilled copies are affixed for certified birth records required for use in countries that are part of the Hague Convention. If the authenticated document is required in a country that is not part of the Hague convention, an exemplified copy will be affixed to the certified copy of a birth record. Note that there is a difference between members of the Hague Conference and Parties to the Hague Convention. Therefore, a requester must determine whether an apostille copy or an exemplified copy is required based on the country in which the documents will be used.

An apostille or exemplified copy of a birth record can only be requested by mail, telephone, or in person. No provisions are made for online requests. To obtain an apostille or exemplified copy by mail, download and complete the Mail-in Application. Fill in "Apostille" or "Exemplified" in the applicant section of the form, next to “Reason for Request”. Send the completed application along with the proper fee to:

Center for Health Statistics
RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street
Suite 1150
Montgomery, AL 36104

Alabama also issues birth certificates for surrogate births in the state. However, a requester seeking to obtain such must present an original, final court order determining the child's legal parentage. A copy of the final order may be accepted if the final court order was not submitted by the hospital or attorney after the legal proceedings.

To obtain a surrogate birth certificate, download and complete the Application to Request an Alabama Certificate After Surrogate Birth. Enclose the form along with an acceptable ID and appropriate fee in a mail to:

Center for Health Statistics
Attn: Parentage Clerk
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625

Orders for surrogate birth certificates can also be placed by telephone by calling a Customer Service Representative at (334) 206-5418. Additional fees may apply. In-person requests can also be made at any Alabama county health department except for Jefferson and Mobile Counties. It is not possible to order surrogate birth certificates online.

The Alabama Center for Health Statistics also issues a Keepsake Birth Certificate, suitable for framing, for anyone born in Alabama for whom there is a record on file in the Vital Records Office. To obtain a Keepsake Birth Certificate, enclose the completed Alabama Request for Keepsake Birth Certificate Form along with the proper identification and fee in a mail to:

Alabama Center for Health Statistics
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625

How to Get Alabama Birth Records in Person?

To obtain a certified birth record in person in Alabama, visit any county health department across the state. County health department locations in Alabama are listed on the Alabama Public Health website. Requesters will need to complete the Vital Record Application Form and present an acceptable ID before requests can be granted. Due to restrictions placed as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, in-person transactions are currently limited at the Vital Records Office of the Alabama Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery. The Office operates between 8:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, except state holidays.

How to Get Alabama Birth Records by Mail?

To obtain a certified Alabama birth record by Mail, complete the Mail-In Application Form and enclose it along with the required fee and acceptable identification in a mail to:

Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625

Where Can I Find Birth Records in Alabama?

The Alabama Center for Health Statistics maintains the vital records system and collects health-related data for the state of Alabama. Birth records are maintained along with other vital records using an automated vital records system called the Vital Statistics Image Oriented Network (ViSION). ViSION allows birth records to be issued through all county health departments in Alabama. Birth records are maintained by the Alabama Center for Health Statistics for 125 years from the date of birth. The Center for Health Statistics is a division of the Alabama Department of Public Health. Older records may be available in the County Probate Court in the Alabama location where the birth occurred.

How to Get Birth Records From a Hospital in Alabama?

Alabama hospitals do not issue certified birth records. However, a birth mother is usually given a document showing a record of the birth before leaving the hospital where the birth occurred. Note that this document is not an official copy of the birth record and cannot be used for legal purposes. A request must be placed to the county health department in the locality where the birth occurs or to the Alabama Department of Public Health in order to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate.

Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Alabama?

Alabama birth records are only available to the following persons, upon the provision of the required identification document and the payment of the appropriate fee:

Persons named on the record
Father, mother, or legal guardian of the person named on the record
Husband or wife of the person named on the record
Son or daughter of the person named on the record
Sister or brother of the person named on the record
The legal representative of an authorized person

Upon the payment of the proper fee and the provision of acceptable identification, the following persons may obtain a Keepsake Birth Certificate:

The person named on the certificate
Mother or father of person named on the certificate
Husband or wife of the person named on the certificate
Son or daughter of the person named on the certificate
Sister or brother of the person named on the certificate

Anyone who intends to obtain a Keepsake Birth Certificate but does not belong to the above-named categories must have written and signed permission from an authorized individual.

Under Section 13A-10-109 of the Code of Alabama 1975, anyone who falsely applies for a birth record in the state is subject to a penalty upon conviction of up to three months in the county jail or a fine of up to $500.

How Much Does a Birth Certificate Cost in Alabama?

It costs $15 to search for a birth certificate in Alabama. This fee includes the cost for one certified copy of the birth record or a "Certificate of Failure to Find". Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $6 each. Persons interested in expedited shipping must pay an additional fee of $15. Checks or money orders must be made payable to the "State Board of Health". Requesters are advised not to send cash. Fees are not refundable.

An Alabama Keepsake Birth Certificate costs $45. An exemplified or apostille copy of a birth record costs $25. A regular certified copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $6. The fee to prepare a new birth certificate after a court-ordered action for a surrogate birth is $25. This fee is inclusive of the cost to issue one certified copy of the new birth certificate. Any additional certified copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $6.

For online orders, additional fees are charged by the third-party vendor providing the service. The independent company accepts all major credit cards, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Birth Certificate in Alabama?

In-person orders for birth records placed at the county health department locations are completed in 30 minutes or less. Mail orders take about 7-10 days to complete. Online orders typically complete in 3-5 business days.

How to Get a New Birth Certificate in Alabama?

It is possible to get a new or a replacement birth certificate in Alabama. The process of getting a new birth certificate in the State is the same as the procedure explained above for getting a birth certificate in Alabama.

Can You Find Alabama Birth Certificates Online?

No. one cannot find an Alabama birth certificate online. Alabama birth certificates are confidential and are only available to a restricted set of people. Based on this, one cannot look up online birth certificates in Alabama.

How to Expunge Your Birth Records in Alabama?

An expungement means to permanently remove a record. It is mostly used to remove the criminal records of pardoned individuals and those whose convictions are overturned. Expungement does not apply to birth records in Alabama.

How to Seal Your Birth Records in Alabama?

Pre-adoption birth records are sealed automatically in Alabama. Upon the completion of all legal proceedings for adoption, the state files away all records related to the birth, including the birth certificate. Per Section 22-9A-12 of the Code of Alabama, a new birth certificate must be issued to replace the pre-adoption certificate. The new certificate is a legal and valid document that states the adoptive parents as the legal parents.

How to Unseal Your Birth Records in Alabama?

In 2000, Alabama laws were amended to allow an adult whose original birth certificate was placed in a sealed file to obtain a non-certified copy of the original birth certificate among other sealed records. The following conditions must apply before a sealed birth record can be obtained:

The person named on the birth certificate - no other family member
The person must be age 19 or older
The person must have been born in Alabama
The person must have had an original birth certificate removed from the files due to an adoption, legitimation, or paternity determination.

To obtain a pre-adoption birth certificate, complete the Request for Pre-Adoption or Other Birth Certificate from an Alabama Sealed File. Alternatively, a letter of request suffices in place of the application form. However, the letter must contain the following information:

Requester's full name as it appears on the current legal birth certificate
Date of birth
County of birth
The full maiden name of the mother as it appears on the current legal birth certificate
Full name of the father as it appears on the current legal birth certificate
Requester's mailing address and telephone number which is available during the day

The letter must be signed and dated, otherwise, it will not be processed. Include a fee of $25 by check or money order made payable to "Alabama Vital Record”. The $25 fee is non-refundable. Mail the letter of request or application along with proper identification to:

Alabama Vital Records - Adoptee Section
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625

For more information or inquiries about unsealing or obtaining original birth certificates in Alabama, contact the Adoptee Section of the Alabama Vital Records at (334) 206-5426

Who Signs Birth and Death Certificates in Alabama?

Birth and death certificates in Alabama are vital records. Alabama vital records maintain both records. The state registrar signs these records before they are available to those qualified to obtain them.

What is an Alabama Birth Index?

Every state in the US has evolved a system of documenting births. One of such system is the state birth index. The state birth index is an abstract of an individual's birth certificate. The birth index contains the following information.

Child's full name
Sex of the child
Date of birth
Place of birth
Names of the parents

It should be noted that in some instances, the birth index contains only the mother's name, probably because the father is not present at the time of birth or the mother decides not to include the father's name.