Find Alabama Obituary Records
Alabama obituaries can be found through newspapers, funeral homes, libraries, and online databases. Each of the 67 counties in Alabama has local sources for obituary records. The Alabama Department of Archives and History holds newspaper collections going back to 1813. Funeral homes across the state post obituaries on their websites. Legacy.com and other free databases make recent obituary records easy to search. This guide shows you where to find Alabama obituary records and how to search for death notices in each county.
Alabama Obituary Quick Facts
What Alabama Obituaries Contain
Alabama obituaries are rich sources of family history. They often include details that you will not find in other records. A typical obituary in Alabama contains the name of the deceased, their age, and where they lived. It may list the date and place of birth. For women, the maiden name is often included.
Family information is common in Alabama obituary records. You may find the names of parents, children, siblings, and spouses. Living relatives and their cities of residence are often listed. Deceased family members may be named as well. This helps researchers build family trees and find connections.
Obituaries published in Alabama often include the following:
- Full name and any nicknames used
- Date and place of birth
- Date and place of death
- Names of surviving family members
- Names of deceased relatives
- Church or religious affiliation
- Funeral service details and burial location
Some Alabama obituaries include more detail. They may mention military service, work history, or community activities. These extra facts can help you verify that you have the right person.
Where to Find Alabama Obituaries
There are several places to search for obituary records in Alabama. The best source depends on when the person died and where they lived.
For recent deaths, start with Legacy.com. This free website has obituaries from newspapers and funeral homes across Alabama. You can search by name and filter by city or county. Most obituaries from the past few years are on Legacy.com.
Funeral homes in Alabama post obituaries on their own websites. If you know which funeral home handled the services, check their site directly. Dignity Memorial operates several locations in Alabama and has a searchable obituary archive. Local funeral homes also keep their own records.
Newspapers are a key source for Alabama obituary records. The Birmingham News, Mobile Press-Register, and Huntsville Times have published obituaries for over a century. Many Alabama newspapers are available on microfilm at local libraries. Some are online through paid services like GenealogyBank and Newspapers.com.
Local libraries offer free access to obituary databases. The Birmingham Public Library has an obituary index covering several area newspapers. The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library runs the HMCPL Obituary Index at obits.hmcpl.org. Mobile Public Library has death records on microfilm from 1876 forward.
Note: Free databases cover recent years best. For older Alabama obituaries, you may need to use a paid service or visit a library in person.
Alabama Obituary Databases
Several online databases have Alabama obituary records. Some are free. Others need a paid subscription or library card.
Free obituary resources for Alabama include the following:
- Legacy.com for recent obituaries from Alabama newspapers
- Find a Grave for cemetery and burial records
- FamilySearch.org for death records and some indexes
- HMCPL Obituary Index for Huntsville area
- Birmingham Public Library Obituary Index
Paid services offer more Alabama obituary records. GenealogyBank has over 161 Alabama publications with archives going back to 1821. Newspapers.com has 576 Alabama publications with more than 14 million pages. Ancestry.com has death indexes and some obituary collections. These sites often have free trials.
Many paid databases are free at your local library. Ask your librarian about access to Ancestry Library Edition, Newspapers.com, or GenealogyBank. You can use these at the library without paying for your own subscription.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is the main state archive. It holds a large collection of newspaper records useful for obituary research.
The ADAH has Alabama newspapers on microfilm from 1813 to the present. You can use these for free in the Research Room. The archive also has a card file of obituaries from Alabama newspapers from 1950 to 1980. There are bound volumes of obituaries from 1813 to 1879.
Civil War era newspapers from 1861 to 1877 have been digitized and are available online through the ADAH digital portal. The Alabama Newspaper Project has cataloged over 2,000 newspapers from across the state.
Research requests cost $15 for Alabama residents and $25 for out-of-state requests. Microfilm is available through interlibrary loan at many Alabama libraries. Many ADAH newspapers are also on Newspapers.com if you prefer to search online.
The archive is located at 624 Washington Avenue in Montgomery. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. There is no charge to visit and use the Research Room.
Are Obituaries the Same as Death Certificates
No. Obituaries and death certificates are different records that serve different purposes.
An obituary is a written notice about a death. Families write obituaries, sometimes with help from funeral home staff. Newspapers and websites publish them. Obituaries tell the story of a person's life and are not official legal documents. They may have errors since they rely on what the family knows.
A death certificate is an official record from the state. In Alabama, the Department of Public Health issues death certificates. They contain verified facts including the exact date and time of death, the cause of death, and the place of death. A doctor or medical examiner must certify the information. Death certificates are required for legal matters like settling estates.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has death records from 1908 to the present. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years after the death. After 25 years, anyone can request a copy. The fee is $15 for a search and one certified copy.
Note: If you need proof of death for legal purposes, you need a death certificate. Obituaries are useful for family history research but are not legal documents.
How to Search for Alabama Obituaries
The steps to find an Alabama obituary depend on when the person died. Recent obituaries are easier to find online. Older records require more work.
For deaths within the past year, try these steps:
- Search Legacy.com by name and Alabama
- Check local newspaper websites like AL.com
- Look at funeral home websites in the area
- Use Google to search the name plus obituary and city
For older Alabama obituaries, you need more information. Try to find the approximate date of death and the city or county. Check free resources first. FamilySearch.org has some Alabama death records indexed. Find a Grave may have burial information that can point you to the right time period.
Library obituary indexes are helpful for historical searches. The Birmingham Public Library index covers newspapers back to 1917. The Tuscaloosa Public Library has an index for 1942 to 1992. These indexes are free to search online.
If you cannot find what you need online, visit a local library. Librarians can help you search microfilm collections. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has the most complete collection of Alabama newspapers.
Alabama Obituary Records by County
Each Alabama county has local sources for obituary records. The probate court in each county handles estate matters and may have related records. Local newspapers serve specific areas. Funeral homes keep their own archives.
The larger counties have more obituary resources. Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham, has the most options. Madison County has the HMCPL Obituary Index. Mobile County has library records going back to 1876. Smaller rural counties may have fewer online resources, but local funeral homes and newspapers still serve these areas.
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, citizens have the right to inspect public records. Probate court records are public in Alabama. These may include estate files that name heirs and family members. Probate records can help when you cannot find an obituary.
Start Your Search
Use our search tool to find obituary records in Alabama. You can search databases covering newspapers, funeral homes, and other sources.
Browse Alabama Obituaries by County
Each county in Alabama has its own sources for obituary records. Select a county below to find local newspapers, funeral homes, and library resources.
Obituaries in Major Alabama Cities
Residents of major cities can find obituaries through county resources and city-specific sources. Click a city below to learn about local obituary records.