Alabama Vital Records: Difference between revisions

== Birth Records  ==

Alabama Counties were&nbsp;requested to&nbsp;register births&nbsp;in 1881. However,&nbsp;the practice of registering births with the county took time to gain acceptance and compliance. Most of these early birth&nbsp;registers <u>do not</u> list the name of the child, but may contain sex, race, place and date of birth, parents, and possibly the physician or midwife attending the birth. Many records are missing, were never created&nbsp;or were destroyed during this time period.  

The State of Alabama did not require&nbsp;the birth registration&nbsp;until&nbsp;1908.&nbsp;The recording&nbsp;of vital records gradually increased with time&nbsp;and was generally complied with by 1927. If&nbsp;a&nbsp;baby's survival was questioned, a birth certificate may not have been created.&nbsp;Most of&nbsp;the&nbsp;early birth&nbsp;certificates do not list the name of the child, but may contain&nbsp;the sex, race, place and date of birth, parents, and possibly the physician or midwife attending the birth.&nbsp;By the 1920's, it is more common to find the baby's name indicated in the record. Links to some online indexes&nbsp;maybe found at&nbsp;[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama%2C_United_States_-_Online_Vital_Records Alabama Vital Records Online]. Contact information and instructions for&nbsp;ordering copies of birth&nbsp;certificates&nbsp;may be found at the [http://adph.org/vitalrecords/Default.asp?id=1559 Alabama Vital Records State Department of Health].  

After a legal&nbsp;adoption is completed, Alabama law&nbsp;requires the creation of a new birth certificate. The original birth certificate and evidence of adoption are placed in a "sealed file." The new&nbsp;certificate is then substituted for the original birth certificate in the State Department of Vital Statistics files.  

The birth&nbsp;parent may&nbsp;indicate a preference for 1) unrestricted contact, 2) contact through an intermediary, or 3) no contact.&nbsp;If the birth parent&nbsp;chooses no contact, an Updated Medical History form must be completed and placed in the file.&nbsp;The [http://adph.org/vitalrecords/Default.asp?id=1558 Alabama Department of Public Health] has detailed information on obtaining copies of these sealed&nbsp;[http://adph.org/vitalrecords/Default.asp?id=1563 birth records].  

Before the Statewide registration of marriages in Alabama began in 1936, the Clerk of the Probate Court in each county issued licenses and recorded marriages. The county marriage&nbsp;records usually began within&nbsp;ten years of the creation of the county.&nbsp;  

[http://www.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4192 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920]  

In the early 1800s, the legislature, the circuit courts, and city courts granted divorces. Divorce records may indicate the date and place of the marriage being dissolved. Alabama divorces were settled or tried in county Chancery Courts until 1915. The state legislature was also empowered to authorize divorce decreesor finalized them?. These early divorce records were published in the Senate and House Journals. In 1915 the chancery courts were merged with the circuit court in each county.  

= Death Records  =

The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing death certificates in January of&nbsp;1908 for persons who died in Alabama.&nbsp; Death certificates were usually filled out by a mortician or medical professional. They filled in the information concerning the death and then obtained personal information on the deceased from an informant, usually a relative. Then, they sent the information to the county, who sent a copy to the state. <br>Death record information may include:  

= Lost / Missing Records  =

Nearly&nbsp;half of the counties in Alabama have had burned courthouses.&nbsp;A number of them have burned several times.&nbsp;Ten Alabama counties have had significant record loss by fire. However, not all records were lost. (Name the 10 counties)<br>[http://myalabamagenealogy.com/index.htm#facts2 Alabama Burned Counties]  

*If a baby's survival was questioned, a birth certificate may not have been created.

*[[Alabama Church Records|Church Records]]  

<br>'''Vital Records are listed in the "Place Search" of the Family History Library Catalog. Search&nbsp;"Alabama" for state level records, and search the name of the county for vital&nbsp;records&nbsp;kept at the county level.'''  

[http://www.archives.state.al.us/referenc/societies.pdf County Historical and Genealogical Societies] of Alabama may be a rich resource for additional records and information.  

[[Category:Alabama]]