Are Death Records Public in Alabama?
Death records for events older than 25 years are public records in Alabama. This means they can be accessed by almost anyone. An Alabama death record is an official document containing a compilation of vital information regarding a person’s death, such as the place of death and cause of death. A death record is deemed part of an individual's Alabama vital record, along with birth information, marriage as well as marriage and divorce records. These records are generated and disseminated by the state vital records office.
What Shows Up on Death Records in Alabama?
An Alabama death record typically contains the deceased’s personal data, and death records in Alabama are created to provide information about deceased persons in the state. The significant details contained in a typical Alabama death record include:
- The full name of the deceased
- The deceased’s personal and statistical information, including sex, color, or race.
- The death date, including age at death
- The place of death
- Date and place of birth
- Usual residence before death
- The medical certification of the cause of death
The Alabama Center for Health Statistics (ACHS) started filing death records for persons who died in Alabama in 1908. Generally, the state uses the information provided in death records to track death trends, set public health goals, and assess health status at local and state levels. Death records are also used to process pension claims, stocks, bonds, and life insurance benefits or to transfer real and personal property titles and close bank accounts.
How are Death Records Created in Alabama?
In Alabama, the funeral director is tasked with compiling, filing, and registering a death certificate per the Alabama Vital Statistics Laws § 22-9A-14. The funeral director may be any individual or organization (i.e., mortuary) who first assumes custody of the decedent. Death certificates for each deceased person in Alabama are to be filed within five days with the Office of Vital Statistics.
An Alabama death certificate contains two significant sections: the personal/statistical data of decedents and the medical certification. The deceased’s personal/statistical data is usually obtained from the next of kin or any relative of the deceased. Upon completion of the first section by the funeral director, the deceased's physician or health care provider will complete the medical certification aspect of the death certificate. In the absence of the physician, the health facility's chief medical officer where the death occurred may complete and sign the death certificate. The medical certification section must be completed within 48 hours and sent to the Vital Statistics Office in Alabama.
If a death occurs in Alabama in the absence of a physician, an autopsy may be required to determine the cause of death. The autopsy may be performed by a physician, county medical officer, state medical examiner, or coroner. Sometimes, it may be impossible to determine the cause of death within 48 hours. In such instances, the person in charge of the autopsy may sign the death certificate and state “pending” before sending it to the Vital Statistics Office.
According to the Alabama Code on Vital Statistics § 22-9A-14, a death certificate must also be filed and registered for each dead body found in Alabama. For a dead body where the actual death place is unknown, the death place will be registered as the county where the dead body was found, while the death date will be the date the body was found. The State Registrar may also prepare and file death certificates for deceased persons whose bodies are not found but are presumed to have died in Alabama.
How to Find Death Records Online in Alabama
The Alabama Public Health Department does not maintain an online database of death records where individuals may look up death records online. Hence, the state does not provide online access to death records.
Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional government sources and 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 a good place to start when looking for specific or multiple records. To gain access to these records, requesters 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 compared to government sources.
- Address where the certificate should be sent (For mail-in requests)
Death Record Search by Name in Alabama
An Alabama death record search by name is the most frequently used option for searching online resources or databases for death record information. The requesting party will be required to input the name of the decedent and date of death into the database, and it will generate possible results.
Death Record Search by Address
To conduct a death record search by address in Alabama, input the decedent's last location or registered address into the database. A death record search by address may also
| Death Record Search | County Health Department | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Autauga Health Department | 219 North Court Street Prattville, Alabama 36067 | Department Phone: (334) 361-3743 Fax: (334) 361-3718 |
| Baldwin County Health Department | 22251 Palmer Street P.O. Drawer 369 Robertsdale, Alabama 36567 | Department Phone: (251) 947-3618 Fax: (251) 947-3557 |
| Barbour County Health Department | P.O. Box 238 634 School Street Eufaula, Alabama 36027 | Department Phone: (334) 687-4808 Fax: (334) 687-6470 |
| Bibb County Health Department | 281 Alexander Ave, Centreville, AL 35042, United States | Department Phone: (205) 926-9702 Fax: (205) 926-6536 |
| Blount County Health Department | 1001 Lincoln Avenue Oneonta, Alabama 35121 | Department Phone: (205) 274-2120 Fax: (205) 274-2210 |
| Bullock County Health Department | 674 Hicks Industrial Boulevard Union Springs, Alabama 36089 | Department Phone: (334) 738-3030 Fax: (334) 738-3008 |
| Butler County Health Department | 350 Airport Road Greenville, Alabama 36037 | Department Phone: (334) 382-3154 Fax: (334) 382-3530 |
| Calhoun Health Department | 3400 McClellan Boulevard Anniston, Alabama 36201 | Department Phone: (256) 237-7523 Fax: (256) 238-0851 |
| Chambers County Health Department | 5 North Medical Park Drive Valley, Alabama 36854 | Department Phone: (334) 756-0758 Fax: (334) 756-0765 |
| Cherokee County Health Department | 833 Cedar Bluff Road Centre, Alabama 35960 | Department Phone: (256) 927-3132 Fax: (256) 927-2809 |
| Chilton County Health Department | 301 Health Center Drive Clanton, Alabama 35045 | Department Phone: (205) 755-1287 Fax: (205) 755-2027 |
| Choctaw County Health Department | 1001 South Mulberry Avenue Butler, Alabama 36904 | Department Phone: (205) 459-4026 Fax: (205) 459-4027 |
| Clarke County Health Department | 22600 Highway 84 East Grove Hill, Alabama 36451 Mailing Address P.O. Box 477 Grove Hill, Alabama 36451 | Department Phone: (251) 275-3772 Fax: (251) 275-8066 |
| Clay County Health Department | 86892 Highway 9 Lineville, Alabama 36266 | Department Phone: (256) 396-6421 Fax: (256) 396-9172 |
| Cleburne County Health Department | 90 Brockford Road Heflin, Alabama 36264-1605 | Department Phone: (256) 463-2296 Fax: (256) 463-2772 |
| Coffee County Health Department | Health Department/Environmental Services 2841 Neal Metcalf Road Enterprise, Alabama 36330 | Department Phone: (334) 347-9574 Fax: (334) 347-7104 |
| Colbert County Health Department | 1000 S. Jackson Highway Sheffield, Alabama 35660 | Department Phone: (256) 383-1231 Fax: (256) 383-8843 |
| Conecuh County Health Department | 102 Wild Avenue Evergreen, Alabama 36401 | Department Phone: (251) 578-1952 Fax: (251) 578-5566 |
| Coosa Health Department | 9518 U.S. Highway 231 Rockford, Alabama 35136 | Department Phone: (256) 377-1068 Fax: (256) 377-1067 |
| Covington County Health Department | 23989 Alabama Highway 55 Andalusia, Alabama 36420 | Department Phone: (334) 222-1175 Fax: (334) 222-1560 |
| Crenshaw County Health Department | 15 Hospital Drive Luverne, Alabama 36049 | Department Phone: (334) 335-2471 Fax: (334) 335-3795 |
| Cullman County Health Department | 601 Logan Avenue, S.W. Cullman, Alabama 35055 | Department Phone: (256) 734-1030 Fax: (256) 737-9646 |
| Dale County Health Department | 532 W. Roy Parker Road Ozark, Alabama 36360 | Department Phone: (334) 774-5146 Fax: (334) 774-2333 |
| Dallas County Health Department | 100 Samuel O. Moseley Drive Selma, Alabama 36701 | Department Phone: (334) 874-2550 Fax: (334) 875-7960 |
| DeKalb County Health Department | 2401 Calvin Drive, Southwest Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Department Phone: (256) 845-1931 Fax: (256) 845-2967 |
| Elmore County Health Department | 6501 U.S. Highway 231 Wetumpka, Alabama 36092 | Department Phone: (334) 567-1186 Fax: (334) 567-1186 |
| Escambia County Health Department | 8600 Highway 31 North Atmore, Alabama 36502 | Department Phone: (251) 368-9188 Fax: (251) 368-9189 |
| Etowah County Health Department | 709 East Broad Street Gadsden, Alabama 35903 | Department Phone: (256) 547-6311 Fax: (256) 549-1579 |
| Fayette Health Department | 215 1st Avenue NW Fayette, Alabama 35555 | Department Phone: (205) 932-5260 Fax: (205) 932-3532 |
| Franklin County Health Department | Franklin County Health Department 801 Highway 48 Russellville, Alabama 35654 Mailing Address Franklin County Health Department P.O. Box 100 Russellville, Alabama 35653 | Department Phone: (256) 332-2700 Fax: (256) 332-1563 |
| Geneva County Health Department | 300 County Road 41 Hartford, Alabama 36344 | Department Phone: (334) 684-2256 Fax: (334) 684-3970 |
| Greene County Health Department | 412 Morrow Avenue Eutaw, Alabama 35462-1109 | Department Phone: (205) 372-9361 Fax: (205) 372-9283 |
| Hale County Health Department | 670 Hall Street Greensboro, Alabama 36744 | Department Phone: (334) 624-3018 Fax: (334) 624-4721 |
| Henry County Health Department | P.O. Box 86 505 Kirkland Street Abbeville, Alabama 36310 | Department Phone: (334) 585-2660 Fax: (334) 585-3036 |
| Houston County Health Department | 1781 East Cottonwood Road Dothan, Alabama 36301 | (334) 678-2800 (334) 678-2817 |
| Jackson County Health Department | 204 Liberty Lane Scottsboro, Alabama 35769-4133 | Department Phone: (256) 259-4161 Fax: (256) 259-1330 |
| Jefferson County Health Department | 1400 Sixth Avenue South Birmingham, Alabama 35233 | Department Phone: (205) 933-9110 |
| Lamar County Health Department | 300 Springfield Road Vernon, Alabama 35592 | Department Phone: (205) 695-9195 Fax: (205) 695-9214 |
| Lauderdale County Health Department | 4112 Chisholm Road Florence, Alabama 35630 Mailing Address P.O. Box 3569 Florence, Alabama 35630 | Department Phone: (256) 764-7453 Fax: (256) 764-4185 |
| Lawrence County Health Department | 13299 Alabama Highway 157 Moulton, Alabama 35650 Mailing address: 13299 Alabama Highway 157 Moulton, Alabama 35650 | Department Phone: (256) 974-1141 Fax: (256) 974-5587 |
| Lee County Health Department | 1801 Corporate Drive Opelika, Alabama 36801 | Department Phone: (334) 745-5765 Fax: (334) 745-9830 |
| Limestone County Health Department | 20371 Clyde Mabry Drive Athens, Alabama 35611 | Department Phone: (256) 232-3200 Fax: (256) 232-6632 |
| Lowndes County Health Department | 507 East Tuskeena Street Hayneville, Alabama 36040 | Department Phone: (334) 548-2564 Fax: (334) 548-2566 |
| Macon County Health Department | 812 Hospital Road Tuskegee, Alabama 36083 | Department Phone: (334) 727-1800 Fax: (334) 727-7100 |
| Madison County Health Department | 301 Max Luther Drive NW Huntsville, Alabama 35811 Mailing address: P.O. Box 17708 Huntsville, Alabama 35810 | Department Phone: (256) 539-3711 Fax: (256) 536-2084 |
| Marengo County Health Department | 303 Industrial Drive Linden, Alabama 36748 | Department Phone: (334) 295-4205 Fax: (334) 295-0124 |
| Marion County Health Department | 2448 Military Street South Hamilton, Alabama 35570 | Department Phone: (205) 921-3118 Fax: (205) 921-7954 |
| Marshall County Health Department | 150 Judy Smith Drive Guntersville, Alabama 35976 | Main: (256) 582-3174 Fax: (256) 582-3548 |
| Mobile County Health Department | Mobile County Health Department 251 North Bayou St. Mobile, Alabama 36603 | Department Phone: (251) 690-8158 |
| Monroe County Health Department | 416 Agriculture Drive Monroeville, Alabama 36460 | Department Phone: (251) 575-3108 Fax: (251) 575-7935 |
| Montgomery County Health Department | 3060 Mobile Highway Montgomery, Alabama 36108 | Department Phone: (334) 293-6400 Fax: (334) 293-6410 |
| Morgan County Health Department | 3821 Hwy. 31 South Decatur, Alabama 35603 | Department Phone: (256) 353-7021 Fax: (256) 353-7901 |
| Perry County Health Department | 1748 South Washington St. Marion, Alabama 36756 | Department Phone: (334) 683-6153 Fax: (334) 683-4509 |
| Pickens County Health Department | 80 William E. Hill Drive Carrollton, Alabama 35447 | Department Phone: (205) 367-8157 Fax: (205) 367-8376 |
| Pike County Health Department | 900 South Franklin Drive Troy, Alabama 36081 | Department Phone: (334) 566-2860 Fax: (334) 566-8534 |
| Randolph County Health Department | 320 Main Street Roanoke, Alabama 36274 | Department Phone: (334) 863-8981 Fax: (334) 863-8975 |
| Russell County Health Department | 1850 Crawford Road Phenix City, Alabama 36867 | Department Phone: (334) 297-0251 Fax: (334) 291-5478 |
| Shelby County Health Department | 2000 County Services Drive P.O. Box 846 Pelham, Alabama 35124 | Department Phone: (205) 664-2470 Fax: (205) 664-4148 |
| St. Clair County Health Department | 1175 23rd Street North Pell City, Alabama 35125 | Department Phone: (205) 338-3357 Fax: (205) 338-4863 |
| Sumter County Health Department | 1121 North Washington Street Livingston, Alabama 35470 | Department Phone: (205) 652-7972 Fax: (205) 652-4331 |
| Talladega County Health Department | Physical Address: 1004 South Street E Talladega, Alabama 35160 Mailing Address: Talladega Health Department P.O. Box 455 Talladega, Alabama 35161 | Department Phone: (256) 362-2593 Fax: (256) 362-0529 |
| Tallapoosa County Health Department | 2078 Sportsplex Boulevard Alexander City, Alabama 35010 | Department Phone: (256) 329-0531 Fax: (256) 329-1798 |
| Tuscaloosa County Health Department | 2350 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405 | Department Phone: (205) 562-6900 Fax: (205) 562-6903 |
| Walker County Health Department | 705 20th Avenue East Jasper, Alabama 35501 | Department Phone: (205) 221-9775 Fax: (205) 221-8810 |
| Washington County Health Department | 14900 St. Stephens Avenue Chatom, Alabama 36518 | Department Phone: (251) 847-2245 Fax: (251) 847-3480 |
| Wilcox County Health Department | 107 Union Street Camden, Alabama 36726 | Department Phone: (334) 682-4515 Fax: (334) 682-4796 |
| Winston County Health Departm | 110 Legion Road Double Springs, Alabama 35553 Mailing Address: 110 Legion Road Double Springs, Alabama 35553 | Department Phone: (205) 489-2101 Fax: (205) 489-2634 |
be conducted using the decedent's last known city or county if specifics of their address are unclear.
How to Find Death Records for Free in Alabama
The Alabama Public Health Department does not provide death certificates for free. However, the general public can look up related information like Alabama obituaries, dates of death, and death indexes from third-party sources. This free information is often for old death certificates already open to the public. Other sources like newspapers, census, or church records may also provide related information on death records.
How to Obtain Death Records in Alabama
Death certificates in Alabama are obtainable at the Vital Records Office of the Alabama Public Health Department. Alternatively, death records are available at the local health department in each county or city in Alabama. Generally, a requester must provide the deceased’s personal information to facilitate the search for the deceased’s death record. A requester must also provide a valid means of identification before the record custodian can process the request. The two methods for obtaining Alabama death certificates are:
Mail Request
You can obtain a death record via mail by sending a completed mail-in application form together with the appropriate fee and valid state-issued ID to:
Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
In addition to the deceased person's personal information, including your daytime phone number and mailing address, where you will receive the death record.
In-Person Request
In Alabama, County Health Departments across the state provide in-person request services for Alabama death records. You can locate the county in Alabama where the death occurred to request a copy of the death certificate. However, these agencies do not maintain other United States death records.
Note that any qualified applicants can request Apostille and Exemplified copies of death records. Death certificates contain the State Registrar's signature and a signed certification from the Alabama Secretary of State. Apostille copies of death records are required for countries that are part of the Hague Convention. In contrast, exemplified copies are necessary for countries not part of the Hague Convention.
Keep in mind that qualified applicants must be relatives of the deceased persons. Also, County Health Departments in Alabama do not provide copies of apostille and exemplified death certificates. Requesters can obtain copies by visiting the following:
Alabama Center for Health Statistics
RSA Tower Building
201 Monroe Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
A mail request can be sent to the Alabama Vital Records Department using the mail-in application form. While filling out the application form, indicate the type (apostille or exemplified) of the death certificate requested and the country where it is needed. This should be done under the “Reason for Request” section on the form. Persons wishing to make phone requests can do so by calling (334) 206-5418 to order copies of the apostille or exemplified records.
Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Death Certificate in Alabama?
Death certificates in Alabama are not open to the public until 25 years from the death date. The Alabama Vital Records Office only accepts requests for death certificates less than 25 years from the decedent's direct relatives and persons with immediate and tangible interests, including:
- The decedent's birth parents
- Husband or wife
- Son or daughter
- Sister or brother
- Grandchild
- Legal representative
Are Death Certificates Public in Alabama?
Yes, Alabama death certificates are public. However, there are some restrictions. Alabama death certificates are state vital records with 25 years of restricted access from the date of death. However, requesters can obtain certificates after 25 years upon payment of processing fees.
To carry out a restricted Alabama death certificate search, requesters must submit their legal identification and information to confirm their relationship with the deceased.
The fee for processing a public death search and obtaining a death certificate is $15.00. This covers a certified copy of the death certificate or a ‘failure to find certificate’. All additional death record searches and issuance of certificates will attract an additional fee of $6.00, which are all payable to the Alabama State Board of Health.
The following information will be required for a proper death record search:
- The full name of the deceased
- Country or city of death
- Date of death
- Gender
- The decedent’s social security number
- Age at death or date of birth
- Their race or ethnicity
- The decedent’s spouse (If any)
- Birth parents (If any)
- Name of requester
- Signature of requester
- Requester’s relationship to the deceased
- Address for receipt of the certificate
- Phone number
Alabama death certificates can be received by mail or through the state county health department.
How Much Does a Death Certificate Cost in Alabama?
The search fee for an Alabama death certificate is $15, while an extra copy requested at the same time costs $6. Since the payment is non-refundable, the Vital Records Office will either send a certified copy of the requested death certificate or a “Certificate of Failure to Find”. Expedited requests will attract additional costs.
The fee for an exemplified or apostille death certificate is $25. Each extra copy of the death certificate, which does not include a certification from the Secretary of State, is $6. Requesters can make payments to the State Board of Health with checks or money orders. Credit card payments are accepted for phone requests.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Alabama?
Generally, requests for Alabama death certificates made via mail are processed between seven to ten days. Requesters can make expedited requests by calling (334) 206-5418. In-person requests are processed on the same day within 30 minutes or less.
Death Certificate and Other Death Records: Understanding the Difference
In Alabama, the difference between death certificates and other death records is that a death certificate is legal proof of death issued to a deceased’s spouse or close relative. The medical personnel in charge issues this document containing:
- The cause of death
- The time of death
The medical personnel may also include other crucial details about the decedent's death.
A death record is a document containing information about a person's death. This record is used by the government for health statistics, public health records, and even to stop the decedent's pension. One can find public death records easily by conducting a death record search on the appropriate platform.
How Long to Keep Records After Death
Relatives of decedents usually need vital records like marriage certificates, tax return documents, birth certificates, and death certificates for claiming the decedent's estates. As such, it is crucial to keep such records permanently. However, if any of these records go missing, relatives of the deceased may locate the appropriate record custodian to request it. For instance, vital records like marriage, divorce, birth, and death certificates are maintained by the Vital Records Office of the Alabama Public Health Department.
How to Expunge Death Records in Alabama?
There is no provision for the expungement of death records in Alabama law. Rather, the expungement law in Alabama allows only persons convicted of misdemeanors and non-violent felony offenses to erase their criminal records. Individuals who have successfully expunged their records may refrain from discussing details of their past convictions.
How to Seal Death Records in Alabama
In Alabama, death records cannot be sealed; only criminal record information like arrest reports, misdemeanor convictions, and selected vital record information can be sealed by the record holder to restrict them from public view. These sealed records are only available to the record holder and approved law enforcement agencies in Alabama. A death certificate in Alabama is automatically restricted by law for the first 25 years from the time of death. The restricted death records are available to only the deceased person's relative and legal representative for the first 25 years.
How to Unseal Death Records in Alabama
Relatives of decedents cannot unseal death records in Alabama as no laws support such an action. However, a death record automatically becomes publicly available after 25 years from the death date.
How to Use the Alabama Death Registry
The Alabama Department of Public Health provides an easy-to-access death registry for all public requesters. However, the death registry is not maintained independently. Rather, the death information held by the department is maintained alongside other vital records and can be accessed through the vital records service.
The information typically required to search for death information on a death registry includes the decedent's name, date of death, county, and last known address.
How to Find an Obituary for a Specific Person in Alabama
An Alabama obituary search can be done by querying local publications in the judicial district where the deceased was resident. Some publications maintain an online database or index of publications. To proceed with Alabama obituary search using these databases, input the full name, the date of death, and the location of death into the database and the results will be generated. Where online options are not available, the requestor may query the local library or national center for vital statistics.
Likewise, public requesters seeking to obtain the obituary information of a specific person can do so online by sending a mail-in request to the Office of Vital Records in Alabama or the public health department.
Alternative to local publications and the National Center for Health and Vital Statistics, death information or obituary records can be obtained through a third-party aggregate site or online vendor. However, these sources do not issue certified copies of vital records.
What is Considered a Death Notice in Alabama?
Alabama death notices are public notices published in dedicated columns of local newspapers by family members or close relatives of a deceased person to officially inform the public of their death. The publication usually covers details such as the decedent's surviving family and details of the funeral.
A key difference between death notices and obituaries is that while a death notice is usually brief, obituaries are detailed and lengthy. However, death notices and obituaries are both public announcements of people's deaths posted in newspapers and other publications. Summarily, while a death notice tends to be a shorter version of a death announcement, an obituary is typically a long-form publication containing the decedent’s biographical information and is usually published by the newspaper's staff as editorial content.
