Alabama Vital Records

United States &gt; Alabama &gt; Alabama Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Introduction to Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded in registers, certificates, and documents. United States Vital Records has additional research guidance on researching and using vital records. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Alabama Vital Records State Department of Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Alabama Statewide Indexes and Collections at the Family History Library.

Alabama Birth, Marriage, and Death Records Online
The following is a list of online resources useful for locating Alabama Vital Records. Check Alabama Vital Records Online for more information about the resources listed below. Most online resources for Alabama Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.  


 * Alabama Links from fhlfavorites.info - Free
 * Alabama Loose Records Index created by the Alabama Department of Archives and History - Free
 * Alabama Databases listed on Rootsweb.org - Free
 * USGenWeb.org Alabama Site - Free
 * Search for Alabama Collections on FamilySearch Record Search under Canada, USA, and Mexico - Free
 * The Vital Records Search and Information Directory for Alabama - Free/$
 * Wee Monster Links for Alabama Birth &amp; Marriage and Death Records - Free/$
 * Linkpendium Links for Alabama Genealogy and History, including individual Counties - Free/$
 * Progenealogists Links for the United States. Press Ctrl + F on the keyboard to search for Alabama or AL - Free/$
 * Search the Alabama Birth, Marriage &amp; Death Records at Ancestry.com - $
 * Order Alabama Certificates online - $

Birth Records
Before 1881

No births were recorded by government agencies. See Substitute Records below.

1881 to 1908

Starting in 1881, the State of Alabama required individual counties to register the birth of children. Because most counties were slow to comply, not all births were recorded. In addition, many records from this time period are missing or were destroyed. Birth registers from this time period usually do not list the name of the child. To obtain copies of birth records from this time period, contact the County Court where the birth occurred. (Microfilmed copies of county birth records for some Alabama Counties are also available through FamilySearch.)

1908 to Present 

The State of Alabama required the registration of births on a state level beginning in 1908. Early registration in this time period was sketchy. Most births were recorded by 1927. Early birth registers and certificates generally do not contain the name of the child but may contain other important information as shown in the table below. It is more common to find the child's name by the 1920's. Birth Certificates are confidential for 125 years following the date of birth. To obtain copies of original birth records, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Resources for Alabama Birth Records


 * For indexes and other available online records, see Alabama Vital Records Online.

Adoption Records
Alabama law requires the creation of a new birth certificate after a legal adoption has taken place. The original birth certificate and evidence of adoption are then placed in a sealed file and the new certificate is substituted for the original birth certificate in the State Department of Vital Statistics files. Starting August 1, 2000, original birth records (as well as all documents in the sealed file) became available to adoptees once they reached the age of 19. The Alabama Department of Public Health has detailed information about obtaining copies of sealed birth records. See Adoption Research for more information.

Marriage Records
1799 - March 3, 1817 Mississippi Territory

In 1799, a law passed in the Mississippi Territory (including present day Alabama) required marriage licenses and bonds to be registered at the Orphans Court in the county of the bride's residence. To obtain copies of original marriage records, contact the Probate Court in the county where the license was issued. (Microfilmed copies of county marriage records for most Alabama Counties are also available through FamilySearch.)

1818 - 1936 Alabama Territory/State

Marriage licenses and bonds were registered in the Orphans Court (renamed the Probate Court in 1850) in the county of the bride's residence. Starting in 1888, bonds were only required if the groom was under the age of 21 or the bride was under the age of 18. To obtain copies of original marriage records, contact the Probate Court in the county where the license was issued or the Alabama Department of Archives and History. (Microfilmed copies of county marriage records for most Alabama Counties are also available through FamilySearch.)

1936 - Present

Alabama started keeping statewide marriage records in August of 1936. For current fees and instructions for obtaining copies of the State’s records, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Resources for Alabama Marriage Records


 * For indexes and other available online records, see Alabama Vital Records Online.
 * Alabama. Department of Health. Marriage Certificates for 1936–1992; and an Index for 1936–1959. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1993. (Starting FHL Film 1,907,711)
 * Early Alabama Marriages 1810–1850: Many Continue or End Between 1850 to 1900, a Few Continue Through from 1900–1936. 44 vols. San Antonio, Texas: Family Adventures, 1991. (WorldCat 24998145; FHL 976.1 V22e)
 * Early Alabama Marriage Records. Shreveport, Louisiana : J &amp; W Ent., c1991. (WorldCat 33848720; FHL 976.1 V2e)
 * Dodd, Jordan R., Norman L. Moyes, and Liahona Research, Inc. Alabama Marriages Early to 1825: A Research Tool. Bountiful, Utah: Precision Indexing, 1991. (WorldCat 24915574; FHL 976.1 V2a)
 * Gandrud, Pauline Myra Jones. Marriage, Death and Legal Notices from Early Alabama Newspapers, 1819-1893. Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, c1981. (WorldCat 11372100; FHL 976.1 V2g)

Divorce Records
Early - 1950

Prior to 1950, divorces could be granted by the State Legislature, Circuit Courts, City Courts, and County Chancery Courts. In 1915, the County Chancery Courts were merged with the County Circuit Courts. Divorces finalized by the State Legislature can be found in the published Alabama Legislative Journals. To locate divorce records for this time period, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where divorce was granted.

1950 - Present

In January 1950, Alabama started keeping statewide divorce records. Contact the Alabama Department of Public Health to obtain divorce records for this time period. Ancestry.com also has an index for divorces granted between 1950 and 1959.

Death Records
Before 1881

No deaths were recorded by government agencies. See Substitute Records below.

1881 to 1908

Starting in 1881, the State of Alabama required individual counties to register deaths. Because most counties were slow to comply, not all deaths were recorded. In addition, many records from this time period are missing or were destroyed. To obtain copies of death records from this time period, contact the County Court where the death occurred. (Microfilmed copies of county death records for some Alabama Counties are also available through FamilySearch.)

January 1908 - Present

Starting in January of 1908, Alabama State Law required the registration of all deaths occuring within the state of Alabama. Copies of death certificates were filed with the Alabama Center for Health Statistics. Information found on a death certificate is reported by an informant (usually a relative) and may or may not be accurate. To obtain copies of original birth records, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Resources for Alabama Death Records


 * For indexes and other available online records, see Alabama Vital Records Online.
 * Alabama. Department of Health. Death Records from 1908 to 1974 and Death Indexes from 1908 to 1959. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1993-2000. (Starting FHL Film 1,909,110; also available on FamilySearch Record Search)

African American
African-American research in Alabama falls into two periods: pre- and post-Civil War. Post-Civil War research consists of the same record used to research non-African-Americans. Pre-Civil War slavery research consists of a few, emancipation records, census records, plantation owners’ family records, church records, cemetery records, military records, probate and court records.

Alabama Indians
When researching Alabama Indians, it is important to identify the tribe to which an ancestor may have have belonged. Most North American Indian records are arranged either by tribal name or by locality of residence.

Substitute Records
Substitute records are used to confirm information and resolve discrepancies found in birth, marriage and death records. By contributing details of the environment, events and history surrounding your ancestor, substitute records enrich the story of the person you are researching.


 * Alabama Church Records
 * Alabama Cemetery Records
 * Federal Census:
 * Alabama Census Alabama had some pre 1850 census that included every name!
 * Alabama History
 * Alabama Newspapers: obituary, birth and marriage announcements, death notices
 * Alabama Military Records:
 * Alabama Periodicals
 * Alabama Obituaries
 * PERSI

Lost / Missing Records
Some records for a given county or for the state of Alabama may have been burned or lost and may be unavailable. Check Alabama Lost/Missing Records for more information.

Tips

 * The information given on a birth or death certificate is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to determine the accuracy of the record.


 * If you are unable to locate a vital records recorded by civil governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record family births, marriages and deaths.


 * African American records may be in separate vital records files with separate indexes.


 * Privacy laws restrict access to the records of living individuals, the individual must apply for their records, parents may be permitted to obtain a record for a child.


 * If a baby's survival was questioned, a birth certificate may not have been created.


 * Vital Records are listed in the Place Searchof the Family History Library Catalog. Search "Alabama" for state level records, and search the name of the county for vital records kept at the county level.

Archives, Libraries &amp; Societies

 * Alabama Archives and Libraries
 * Alabama Societies
 * County Historical and Genealogical Societies of Alabama may be a rich resource for additional records and information