Alabama Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked.

- For more information on census records, see Alabama Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration, were kept in Alabama beginning in 1908. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however.

Births
 * 1881-1930: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1881-1930: at FamilySearch; index only

Marriages
 * 1784-1920: Alabama Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Court, and Other Records at Ancestry; index and Images ($)
 * 1800-1969: Alabama Marriage Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1802-1825: Alabama Compiled Marriages at Ancestry ($)
 * 1805-1967: Alabama County Marriage Records at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1809-1950: at FamilySearch; index and images
 * 1809-1920: Alabama Compiled Marriages from Selected Counties at Ancestry ($)
 * 1814-1935: Alabama Marriage Indexes at Ancestry; index & images ($)
 * 1816-1957: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at: American Ancestors ($)
 * 1816-1942: Alabama Select Marriage Indexes at Ancestry ($)
 * 1818-1936: at FamilySearch; index and images

Deaths 
 * 1784-1920: Alabama Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Court, and Other Records at Ancestry; index and Images ($)
 * 1843-1951: Alabama Death Record of State Convicts at Ancestry ($)
 * 1881-1952: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1881-1974: Alabama Deaths and Burials Index at Ancestry; index ($)
 * 1908-1974: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at American Ancestors ($)
 * 1908-1959: Alabama Death Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * at FamilySearch; index

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Alabama, see How to Find Alabama Birth Records, How to Find Alabama Marriage Records, and How to Find Alabama Death Records.

Step 3:'''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1908. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers. Obituaries
 * Online Alabama Death Records, Indexes, Obituaries
 * at FamilySearch; Index/images — How to Use this Collection
 * ObitsArchive.com - Alabama ($)
 * ObituariesHelp.org - Alabama Newspaper Obituaries Listings
 * The Obituary Link Page - Alabama Obituary Links
 * Alabama Obituaries
 * at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection

Cemetery Records
 * 1933-1990: US Tennessee Valley Cemetery Relocation Files at Ancestry ($)
 * Alabama cemetery records at Ancestry ($)
 * Alabama Cemetery Records at Interment.net
 * Cemetery Records at Findagrave.com
 * BillionGraves Cemetery Records at BillionGraves

For more information, see Alabama Obituaries and Alabama Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Alabama, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Alabama, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Alabama Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Alabama Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Alabama Online Genealogy Records