How to Find Alabama Death Records

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How to Find United States Deaths Gotoarrow.pngAlabama Deaths
 NOTE:  This page is currently under construction.

Alabama became a state in 1819. County registration of birth records began in 1881, with a few earlier death records in probate court records. Statewide registration of deaths began 1 January 1809, with full compliance by 1925. Pre-1908 county records may be accessible through county clerks. Deaths after 1908 now filed with Alabama Department of Public Health.

Next Step: When did the death occur? [edit | edit source]
Death Records
Choose a time period:

Learn more about U.S. Death Records


Deaths before 1881[edit | edit source]

County clerks began to record death registrations in 1881. A few stray death dates were recorded before 1881 in county probate records.

If you cannot find your ancestor's death record before 1881, you may wish to search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

  Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records
Newspapers
Probate (wills, etc)
Tax Records
Church Records
Census
Bible Records
Return to top: Choose another death year



Deaths from 1881 thru 1974[edit | edit source]

County clerks began to register death records in 1881. Not all county death records survived. Surviving records are located in county courthouses.

Statewide registration of deaths in Alabama began in 1908.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information[edit | edit source]

For deaths that may exist between 1881 and 1974, try the following databases. If you can't find your ancestor in the first link, try all of them.

  Alabama Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images (FamilySearch)

Try 1st:


1890-1986, FamilySearch.org Free. New index, new images. Dates vary by county. Few deaths before 1903. Click on a linked name and "view image" to view the image.[1]
Try 2nd:


1890-1976, FamilySearch.org Free. Dates vary by county. Few deaths before 1903. Click on a linked name and "view image" to view the image.
Try 3rd:


1977-1986, FamilySearch.org Free. Dates vary by county. Click on a linked name and "view image" to view the image.









  AlabamaDeath Indexes Only (1903-2000)

If you can't find the death record in the above databases, try the following indexes:


Index, 1903-2000, FamilySearch Free.




Index, 1903-2000, Ancestry.com Ancestry.com. Free at FamilySearch Centers. [2] Find your local FamilySearch Center.






Social Security Death Index (SSDI)


[3] 1937 - Present, GenealogyBank.com Free; most current version. Few records before 1962. Gives place where the last benefit was sent



Can't find your ancestor in the online index? Tips for searching online indexes



No death record for your ancestor? Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]

PART A: You know the exact date of death

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death From Alabama Department of Public Health
Pros Cons Pros Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state County websites can be more difficult to use Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee May be more expensive than ordering from the county

See a list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order a death record, you can search other records with death information.

PART B: You don't know the exact date of death

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the Alabama Department of Public Health will do a search of other years, but may take longer to process the request.

See the list of restrictions for ordering death records


If you do not want to order a death record, you can search other records with death information.

Return to top: Choose another death year



Deaths after 1986[edit | edit source]

PART A: You know the exact date of death

With an exact date (from your records), you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death From Alabama Department of Public Health
Pros Cons Pros Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state County websites can be more difficult to use Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee May be more expensive than ordering from the county

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.


PART B: You don't know the exact date of death

Try:

Social Security Death Index (SSDI)


1937 - Present, GenealogyBank.com Free; most current version; few records before 1962; gives place where the last benefit was sent
Or try:




Don't want to order the death record? Search other records with death information
Return to top: Choose another death year



Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records[edit | edit source]

Restrictions for persons who died within the last 25 years:
Death certificates for deaths in Alabama within the past 25 years are considered protected records. To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 25 years, you must be:

  • The surviving spouse of the deceased
  • An immediate family member of the deceased
  • A parent of the deceased
  • Funeral director
  • Anyone who has a legal interest in the certificate

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.
Return to top: Choose another death year



Related Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]

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