Alabama Research Tips and Strategies

Alabama Research Strategies
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in Alabama


 * Alabama Online Genealogy Records
 * How to find Alabama Birth Records
 * How to find Alabama Marriage Records
 * How to find Alabama Death Records
 * Alabama Search Strategies

Alabama Research Tips
These tips will help you as you research your ancestors in Alabama.

Birth information Birth records in Alabama start on the county level in 1908 - although not all counties complied with the law. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records

Finding Parents The State of Alabama began recording deaths in 1908. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search Alabama death records

Look in all censuses  Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses. 

Alabama Record Finder
This Record Finder is designed to help you determine the best record to search for the type of information you are looking for. It is most helpful for post-1850 research.

To look for more Alabama records, go here.

Further Alabama Research
For more research on Alabama, including research at the county level, visit the Alabama page on the Research Wiki.

Search all of the Alabama record collections at FamilySearch.