Alabama Vital Records

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Alabama Vital Records Online Links
The internet is a powerful tool for locating online Alabama Vital Record Indexes. After locating a person in the index, original records should always be consulted. Very few indexes link to actual images of birth, marriage, death and divorce records. As digitized images become available, links may be found under Alabama Original Vital Record Images Online.

Introduction to Vital Records
Alabama Vital Records include birth, marriage, divorce, and death records. Documents recording these important events are commonly referred to as ''"vital records". '' A copy or extract of the original record may be obtained by contacting the Alabama Vital Records State Department of Health or the appropriate County Clerk's offices. United States Vital Records offers an overview of vital records in the United States.

Minorities
Resources for African-American research fall into two periods: pre- and post-Civil War. Post-Civil War research consists of consulting the same record types you would use to research non–African-Americans. Pre-Civil War research consists of consist of slave importation declarations, plantation records, emancipation records, apprenticeship bonds for freedmen, Alabama hiring practices, census records, plantation owners’ family records, church and cemetery records, military records, and Alabama court records.

Birth Records
1881 to 1908

Alabama Counties were requested to register births in 1881. However, the practice of registering births with the county took time to gain acceptance and compliance. Most of these early birth registers do not list the name of the child, but may contain sex, race, place and date of birth, parents, and possibly the physician or midwife attending the birth. Many records are missing, were never created or were destroyed during this time period.

1908 to Present 

The State of Alabama did not require the birth registration until 1908. The recording of vital records gradually increased with time and was generally complied with by 1927. If a baby's survival was questioned, a birth certificate may not have been created. Most of the early birth certificates do not list the name of the child, but may contain the sex, race, place and date of birth, parents, and possibly the physician or midwife attending the birth. By the 1920's, it is more common to find the baby's name indicated in the record. Links to some online indexes maybe found at Alabama Vital Records Online. Contact information and instructions for ordering copies of birth certificates may be found at the Alabama Vital Records State Department of Health.

= Adoption Records =

After a legal adoption is completed, Alabama law requires the creation of a new birth certificate. The original birth certificate and evidence of adoption are placed in a "sealed file." The new certificate is then substituted for the original birth certificate in the State Department of Vital Statistics files.

As of August 1, 2000, original birth information became available to adoptees once they reach the age of 19. The law allows all adult adoptees whose original birth certificate and court records were placed in a "sealed file" to obtain a copy of the birth certificate and any other documents held in the file.

The birth parent may indicate a preference for 1) unrestricted contact, 2) contact through an intermediary, or 3) no contact. If the birth parent chooses no contact, an Updated Medical History form must be completed and placed in the file. The Alabama Department of Public Health has detailed information on obtaining copies of these sealed birth records.

= Marriage Records =

Before the Statewide registration of marriages in Alabama began in 1936, the Clerk of the Probate Court in each county issued licenses and recorded marriages. The county marriage records usually began within ten years of the creation of the county.

1799 - March 3, 1817 Mississippi Territory

In 1799, when Alabama was part of the Mississippi Territory, a law was passed requiring the registration of marriage licenses and bonds. These licenses and bonds were registered in the Orphans Court in the county of the bride's residence. Early Alabama marriage records generally contain the name of bride and groom, name of the presiding official at the marriage and the signatures of two people who posted a marriage bond.

1818 - 1936 Alabama Territory/State 

Early Marriage licenses and bonds were registered in the Orphans Court in the County of the bride's residence. In 1844 the Orphans Court was renamed the Probate Court. From 1888 on, bonds were only required if the groom was under the age of 21 or the bride was under the age of 18. The county marriage records usually began within ten years of the creation of the county. Early marriage records may include the names of the bride and groom, date of marriage, bondsmen, and licensed officiant. Later, marriage records may include ages, occupations, and number of previous marriages for each spouse and the parents' names. The Family History Library has microfilms of the county marriage records for most Alabama Counties. These films may be ordered and viewed at a nearby Family History Center.

1936 - Present

Alabama began 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. For marriages prior to 1936, contact the Probate Court in County where license was issued. The Family History Library has films of the statewide Marriage Certificates for 1936–1992; and an Index for 1936–1959 that may be ordered and viewed at a nearby Family History Center.

There are several statewide indexes in book format:

Early Alabama Marriages 1810–1850: Many Continue or End Between 1850 to 1900, a Few Continue Through from 1900–1936. San Antonio, Texas: Family Adventures, 1991. There are indexes for grooms and brides. This same information is published in Early Alabama Marriage Records. These volumes were also published in 1991.

Alabama Marriages Early to 1825: A Research Tool. Bountiful, Utah: Precision Indexing, 1991. Over 6,000 marriages are listed alphabetically with the name of the couple and their date and county of marriage.

Early marriage records are included in the Gandrud and Jones Alabama Records Collection titled Marriage, death and legal notices from early Alabama newspapers, 1819-1893

The Family History Library has films of the statewide Marriage Certificates for 1936–1992; and an Index for 1936–1959.

Alabama Marriage Collection, 1800-1969

Alabama Marriages to 1825

Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920

= Divorce Records =

Early - 1950 RESOLVE

In the early 1800s, the legislature, the circuit courts, and city courts granted divorces. Divorce records may indicate the date and place of the marriage being dissolved. Alabama divorces were settled or tried in county Chancery Courts until 1915. The state legislature was also empowered to authorize divorce decreesor finalized them?. These early divorce records were published in the Senate and House Journals. In 1915 the chancery courts were merged with the circuit court in each county.

1950 - Present

Statewide Divorce Records for Alabama begin January of 1950. There is an online index for Alabama Divorces for 1950-1959. For divorce records prior to this time, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where divorce was granted.

= Death Records =

January 1908 - Present

The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing death certificates in January of 1908 for persons who died in Alabama. 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. Death record information may include:


 * Date of death
 * Date of burial
 * Birth date of the deceased
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery where buried
 * Country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the deceased
 * 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 and if foreign-born
 * Whether the deceased was single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death
 * Occupation of the deceased

Alabama Statewide Deaths from 1908-1974 are available on Record Search The Family History Library has microfilms of statewide Death Records from 1908 to 1974 and Death Indexes from 1908 to 1959 that may be viewed at a nearby Family History Center.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI)

Alabama. Department of Health (Montgomery, Alabama). Deaths, 1908–1972; Index to Deaths, 1908–1969. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1993.

The county death records specify name, age, gender, race, date, place, and cause of death. TIME PERIOD?

Alabama Death, 1908-1959

Alabama Department of Archives and History

http://www.deathindexes.com/alabama/index.html

= Lost / Missing Records =

Nearly half of the counties in Alabama have had burned courthouses. A number of them have burned several times. Ten Alabama counties have had significant record loss by fire. However, not all records were lost. (Name the 10 counties) Alabama Burned Counties

Known record loss for Alabama counties. (create chart)

Butler county courthouse burned April 1853

Calhoun rec loss 1861; 1865, &amp;nbsp;

Cherokee records burned in 1882,

Clay rec loss 1875,

Coffee/Elba rec loss 1877,

Conecuh rec loss 1868,1875,1885,1895,

Coosa rec loss 1900,

Covington rec burned 1895,

Dale rec los 1895,

Escambia rec loss 1868,

Fayette rec loss 1866; 1916,

Franklin rec burned 1890,

Geneva rec loss 1898,

Green rec loss 1868,

Jackson rec loss 1864, 1920,

Jefferson rec loss 1870,

Limestoone rec loss 1862,

Marengo rec loss 1848, 1965,

Marion rec burned 1883, 1887,

Mobile rec loss 1823,1840,1872,

Monroe burned prior to 1833, rec loss 1832,

Pickens rec loss 1864, 1876,

Pike rec loss 1830,

Randolph rec loss 1896,

Sumpter rec loss 1901,

Walker rec burned 1865,1877, 1886, 1932)

= 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 a church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A Family Bible may have been used to record family births, marriages and deaths.
 * If you are of African American desent the records for your ancestors 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.

= Analyzing Records =

= Substitute Records =


 * Church Records
 * Federal census: ........1850-1880; 1900-1930......
 * Alabama Census ....Alabama had some pre 1850 census that included every name!
 * Alabama History for a calendar of events affecting vital records
 * Newspapers: obituary, birth and marriage announcements, death notices
 * Military Records: pension, elistment

'''Vital Records are listed in the "Place Search" of 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 =

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