How to Find Alabama Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths Alabama Deaths

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 1908, 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.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * Death Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * Before 1881
 * 1881 thru 1908
 * After 1908 to the present
 * Death year unknown


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Deaths before 1881
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.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1881 thru 1974
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
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.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
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:

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
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:

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

Return to top: Choose another death year

Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records
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

 * Learn more about U.S. death records
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 * How to find U.S. marriage records
 * How to Find U.S. death Records
 * United States Record Selection Table
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
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