Alabama Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

How To Use This Record
Death certificates are the best source of death information. The certificates contain clues for further research: the birth date and birthplace of the individual; the name of the spouse; the names of parents; the place of residence; the name of the informant who may be a child of the deceased.

Why This Record Was Created
Deaths were recorded to better serve public health needs. They were also used in connection with the probate of wills and the administration of estates.

Record History
The trend of keeping state-wide death records throughout the United States expanded in the early 20th century after Congress passed a resolution in 1901 asking each state to gather information about births and deaths on a statewide basis. Because Congress did not fund it, it took several more years before it happened in every state. Death certificates were usually filled out by a mortician or medical professional. They filled in the information concerning the death and then obtained personal information on the deceased from an informant, usually a relative. Then, they sent the information to the county, who sent a copy to the state.

Record Description
Each death was recorded on a one-page pre-printed form.

Alabama Death Certificate

Record Coverage
Alabama has recorded deaths from 1 January 1908 to at least 2000.

Though recording of deaths was mandatory, the state did not achieve 90 percent compliance of death registration until 1925.

Record Content
Important genealogical facts in death entries:


 * Dates of death and burial
 * Frequently, birth date of the deceased
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery where buried
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the deceased
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the parents
 * Name of the deceased, married name of spouse, names of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Name of the informant, who is often a child or other family member
 * Age of the deceased usually in years, months, and days
 * Sex of the deceased
 * Residence or address of the deceased, often including length of residence at that place or in the United States, if foreign-born
 * Whether the deceased was single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death
 * Occupation of the deceased

Record Reliability
Information pertaining to death is reliable; including cause of death, name of the attending physician or medical professional, name and address of the funeral home used, and the exact date and place of burial. Other information is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.

Bibliographic Information
Alabama Department of Health. Certificate of death. From URL, date accessed or downloaded. Digital identification number if any, certificate number, name of individual, death date. Example: Alabama Department of Health. Certificate of death. From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org), September 29, 2006. Certificate 3531, Zala Newcomb, 24 Feb 1943.