Alabama Vital Records: Difference between revisions

'''Introduction to Vital Records'''  

== Birth Records  ==

No births were recorded by government agencies prior to 1881. See '''Substitute''' '''Records''' below.<br>  

Starting in 1881, the State of Alabama required individual counties to register the birth of children. Because most counties were slow to comply, not all births were recorded. In addition, many records from this time period are missing or were destroyed. Birth&nbsp;registers from this time period usually <u>do</u> <u>not</u> list the name of the child. To obtain copies of birth records from this time period, contact the County Court where the birth occurred. (Microfilmed copies of county birth records for some Alabama Counties are also available through {{FHL|356|subject-id|disp=FamilySearch}}.)  

The [http://www.alabama.gov/portal/secondary.jsp?page=AboutAlabama_Genealogy State of Alabama] required the registration of births on a state level beginning in 1908. Early registration in this time period was sketchy. Most births were recorded by 1927. Early birth&nbsp;registers and certificates generally do not contain the name of the child but may contain other important information&nbsp;as&nbsp;shown in the&nbsp;table below. It is more common to find the child's name by the 1920's. Birth Certificates are confidential for 125 years following the date of birth. To obtain copies of original birth records, contact the [http://adph.org/vitalrecords/Default.asp?id=1559 Alabama Department of Public Health].&nbsp;  

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*For indexes and other available online records, see [[Alabama Vital Records Online|Alabama Vital Records Online]].

== Marriage Records  ==

In 1799, a law passed in the Mississippi Territory (including present day Alabama) requiring marriage licenses and bonds to be registered at the Orphans Court in the county of the bride's residence. To obtain copies of original marriage records, contact the Probate Court in the county where the license was issued. Microfilmed copies of county marriage records for most Alabama Counties are also available through {{FHL|356|subject-id|disp=FamilySearch}}.  

Marriage licenses and bonds were registered in the Orphans Court (renamed the Probate Court in 1850) in the county of the bride's residence. Starting in 1888, bonds were only required if the groom was under the age of 21 or the bride was under the age of 18. To obtain copies of original marriage records, contact the Probate Court in the county where the license was issued or the [http://www.archives.alabama.gov/ Alabama Department of Archives and History]. Microfilmed copies of county marriage records for most Alabama Counties are also available through {{FHL|356|subject-id|disp=FamilySearch}}.  

Alabama started keeping statewide marriage records in August of 1936. For current fees and instructions for obtaining copies of the State’s records, contact the [http://adph.org/vitalrecords/ Alabama Department of Public Health].  

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*For indexes and other available online records, see [[Alabama Vital Records Online|Alabama Vital Records Online]].  

== Divorce Records  ==

Prior to 1950, divorces could be granted by the State Legislature, Circuit Courts, City Courts, and County Chancery Courts. In 1915, the County Chancery Courts were merged with the County Circuit Courts. Divorces finalized by the State Legislature can be found in the published Alabama [http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/history/timeline.html Legislative Journals]. To locate divorce records for this time period, contact the [http://www.acadv.org/courts.html Clerk of Circuit Court] in the county where the divorce was granted.  

In January 1950, Alabama started keeping statewide divorce records. Contact the [http://adph.org/vitalrecords/Default.asp?id=1561 Alabama Department of Public Health] to obtain divorce records for this time period. [http://search.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8976&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 Ancestry.com] also has an index for divorces granted between 1950 and 1959.  

== Death Records  ==

No deaths were recorded by government agencies. See '''Substitute Records''' below.  

Starting in 1881, the State of Alabama required individual counties to register deaths. Because most counties were slow to comply, not all deaths were recorded. In addition, many records from this time period are missing or were destroyed. To obtain copies of death records from this time period, contact the County Court where the death occurred. Microfilmed copies of county death records for some Alabama Counties are available through {{FHL|356|subject-id|disp=FamilySearch}}.  

Starting in January of 1908, Alabama State Law required the registration of all deaths occuring within the state of Alabama. Copies of death certificates were filed with the [http://www.adph.org/vitalrecords/ Alabama Center for Health Statistics]. Information found on a death certificate is reported by an informant (usually a relative) and may or may not be accurate. To obtain copies of original&nbsp;death records, contact the [http://adph.org/vitalrecords/Default.asp?id=1560 Alabama Department of Public Health]. <br>  

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*For indexes and other available online records, see [[Alabama Vital Records Online|Alabama Vital Records Online]].  

== Tips  ==

*Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help you determine the [[Contradictions and discrepancies|accuracy of the information]] found on the record.  

*If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search in [[Alabama Church Records|church records]] for christening, marriage, death, or burial records. A [[Alabama Bible Records|family Bible]] may also have been used to record family [[United States Birth Records|births]], [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]] and deaths.  

*[http://lrp.algensoc.org/lrpw/loader2.html Alabama Loose Records Index] created by the [http://www.archives.alabama.gov/research.html Alabama&nbsp;Department of Archives and History]&nbsp;- Free  

*[http://userdb.rootsweb.ancestry.com/regional.html#Alabama Alabama Databases] listed on [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ Rootsweb.com]&nbsp;- Free  

*USGenWeb.org [http://www.algenweb.us/ Alabama Site] - Free  

*Search for Alabama Collections on [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org] under [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1&region=NORTH_AMERICA Canada, USA, and Mexico] - Free  

*Progenealogists Links for the [http://progenealogists.com/genealogysleuthb.htm United States]. Press '''Ctrl + F''' on the keyboard to search for '''Alabama''' or '''AL''' -&nbsp;Free/$  

*Search the [http://www.ancestry.com/search/locality/dbpage.aspx?tp=2&p=3&categoryFilterID=34&showPaging=true Alabama Birth, Marriage &amp; Death] Records at Ancestry.com - $&nbsp;  

*[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama_Marriages_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records) Alabama Marriages. (FamilySearch Historical Records)]  

*[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Alabama_Deaths_and_Burials_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records) Alabama Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records)]