Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Birth Records
Birth Records Available: The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing birth certificates in 1908 for persons born in Alabama.
Restrictions: By Alabama law, birth certificates are confidential records with restricted access for 125 years from the date of birth. They may obtained by the following persons, upon payment of the proper fee:
- Person Named on the Certificate
- Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian)
- Husband/Wife of Person Named on Certificate
- Son/Daughter of Person Named on Certificate
- Sister/Brother of Person Named on Certificate
- Legal Representative of an Authorized Person
Cost: The fee to search for a birth certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the birth certificate or “Certificate of Failure to Find.” For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $4.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to “Vital Records.” Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.
Information Required: Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the birth certificate:
- Full name of person as listed on the certificate
- Date of birth
- Sex
- County (or city) of birth
- Hospital of birth – if not in a hospital state “home”
- Full maiden name of mother
- Full name of father
- Your name
- Your signature
- Your relationship to the person whose certificate you are requesting
- Address where the certificate is to be mailed
- Your daytime phone number
Send To: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:
Alabama Vital Records
P. O. Box 5625
Montgomery, Al 36103-5625
In Alabama? You may also go to any county health department in the State of Alabama to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate. Most birth certificates can be issued while you wait.
Questions: If you have questions or would like information on expediting a certified copy of a birth certificate, please call (334) 206-5418.
Death Records
Online Alabama Death Records
Records Available: The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing death certificates in 1908 for persons who died in Alabama.
Restrictions: By Alabama law, death certificates are confidential records with restricted access for 25 years from the date of death. Death certificates less than 25 years old may obtained by the following persons, upon payment of the proper fee:
Mother/Father of Person Named on Certificate
Husband/Wife of Person Named on Certificate
Son/Daughter of Person Named on Certificate
Sister/Brother of Person Named on Certificate
Legal Representative of Family or Estate
Informant Listed on Death Certificate as Providing Information
Death certificates more than 25 years old may be obtained by anyone upon payment of the proper fee.
Cost: The fee to search for a death certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the death certificate or “Certificate of Failure to Find.” For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $4.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to “Vital Records.” Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.
Information Required: Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the death certificate:
- Full legal name of deceased
- Date of death
- County (or city) of death
- Sex
- Social Security number
- Date of birth or age at death
- Race
- Name of spouse
- Names of parents
- Your name
- Your signature
- Your relationship to the person whose certificate you are requesting
- Address where the certificate is to be mailed
- Your daytime phone number
Send To: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:
Alabama Vital Records
P. O. Box 5625
Montgomery, Al 36103-5625
Questions: If you have questions or would like information on expediting a certified copy of a death certificate, please call (334) 206-5418.
In Alabama? You may also go to any county health department in the State of Alabama to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate.
Marriage records
- Online Alabama Marriage Records
Records Available: The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing marriage certificates in August 1936 for marriages that occurred in Alabama. (Information for marriages prior to 1936 must be obtained from the probate office in the county where the marriage license was issued.)
Restrictions: None. By Alabama law, marriage certificates are not confidential and may be obtained by any individual upon payment of the proper fee.
Cost: The fee to search for a marriage certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate or “Certificate of Failure to Find.” For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $4.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to “Vital Records.” Please do not send cash. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.
Information Required: Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the marriage certificate:
- Full name of husband
- Full maiden name of wife
- Date of marriage
- County where marriage license was issued
- Your name
- Your signature
- Address where the certificate is to be mailed
- Your daytime phone number
Send To: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:
Alabama Vital Records
P. O. Box 5625
Montgomery, Al 36103-5625
Questions: If you have questions or would like information on expediting a certified copy of a marriage certificate, please call (334) 206-5418.
In Alabama? You may also go to any county health department in the State of Alabama to obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate.
Divorce Records
Records Available: The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing divorce certificates in 1950 for divorces that occurred in Alabama. (Information for divorces prior to 1950 must be obtained from the circuit court in the county where the divorce was granted.)
Restrictions: None. By Alabama law, divorce certificates are not confidential and may be obtained by any individual upon payment of the proper fee.
Cost: The fee to search for a divorce certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the divorce certificate or “Certificate of Failure to Find.” For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $4.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to “Vital Records.” Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.
Information Required: Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the divorce certificate:
- Full name of husband
- Full maiden name of wife
- Date of divorce
- County where divorce was granted
- Your name
- Your signature
- Address where the certificate is to be mailed
- Your daytime phone number
Send To: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:
Questions: If you have questions or would like information on expediting a certified copy of a divorce certificate, please call (334) 206-5418.
In Alabama? You may also go to any county health department in the State of Alabama to obtain a certified copy of a divorce certificate.
- Alabama Vital Records at Ancestry – Free Trial!
