Alabama Vital Records: Difference between revisions

[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama_Minorities African-American research] in [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Portal:Alabama Alabama] falls into two periods: pre- and post-Civil War. Post-Civil War research consists of the same record used to research non–African-Americans. [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/African_American_Slavery_and_Bondage Pre-Civil War slavery research] consists of slave importation declarations, plantation records, emancipation records, apprenticeship bonds for freedmen, [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama_Census census records], plantation owners’ family records, [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama_Church_Records church] records, cemetery records, [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama_Military_Records military records], probate and court records.  

The [http://www.alabama.gov/portal/secondary.jsp?page=AboutAlabama_Genealogy State of Alabama] did not require birth registration at the state level until 1908. The recording of vital records gradually increased with time and was generally complied with by 1927. Most of the early birth registers and certificates do not list the name of the child, but may contain the sex, race, place and date of birth, parents, and possibly the physician or midwife attending the birth. By the 1920's, it was more common to find the child's name in the record. Some sources for online indexes is at [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama%2C_United_States_-_Online_Vital_Records Alabama Vital Records Online].  [http://adph.org/vitalrecords/Default.asp?id=1559 Alabama Vital Records State Department of Health] has instructions for ordering copies of birth certificates.  

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

Early marriage records begin in 1799. Licenses and bonds were registered in the Orphans Court in the county of the bride's residence. These early marriage records generally contain the name of bride and groom, name of the presiding official at the marriage and the signatures of two people who posted a marriage bond.  

Early Marriage&nbsp;licenses and bonds were registered in the Orphans Court in the County of the bride's residence. In&nbsp;1844 the Orphans Court was renamed the Probate Court.&nbsp;From 1888 on, bonds were only required if the groom was under the age of 21 or the bride was under the age of 18. The county marriage records usually began within ten years of the creation of the county. Early marriage records may include the names of the bride and groom, date of marriage, bondsmen, and licensed officiant. Later, marriage records may include&nbsp;ages, occupations, and number of previous marriages for each spouse and the parents' names. The [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHL/frameset_library.asp Family History Library] has microfilms of the county marriage records for most [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localityrelated&columns=*%2C0%2C0&subject=356&subject_disp=Alabama Alabama Counties]. These films may be ordered and viewed at a&nbsp;nearby [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp Family History Center].<br>

In the early 1800's, the legislature, circuit courts, and city courts granted divorces. Alabama divorces were also settled or tried in county chancery courts until 1915 when the chancery courts were merged with the county circuit court. The state legislature finalized early divorces for a period and these early&nbsp;records were published in the Senate and House Journals.