Find Birmingham Obituary Records
Birmingham obituary records are available through The Birmingham News archives, the Birmingham Public Library, and dozens of local funeral homes. As Alabama's third largest city with nearly 200,000 people, Birmingham has extensive obituary resources. The Birmingham Public Library maintains one of the best obituary indexes in the state. It covers The Birmingham News from 1917 to 1996, plus several other papers. Legacy.com posts current obituaries daily. Funeral homes like Arrington and Eastside keep online archives. Whether you need a recent death notice or historical records, Birmingham has the resources you need.
Birmingham Quick Facts
Jefferson County Probate Court
Birmingham residents file vital records through the Jefferson County Probate Court. The court has two divisions - Birmingham and Bessemer. Most Birmingham residents use the Birmingham Division downtown.
The probate court handles death certificates, wills, estate files, and probate records. These can help when you need to verify dates or find family names that aren't in an obituary.
| Birmingham Division | 716 N Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 205-325-5420 |
| Bessemer Division | 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020 |
| Phone | 205-481-4100 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Website | jeffcoprobatecourt.com |
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files. These records may list heirs and family members.
Birmingham Newspapers with Obituaries
The Birmingham News is the main newspaper for obituaries in the metro area. It has published since 1888 and has the most extensive obituary archives. The paper partners with AL.com for online content.
To submit an obituary to The Birmingham News, email birmobit@obituaries.com or call 888-823-8554. Current obituaries appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/birmingham.
Other Birmingham newspapers that publish obituaries:
- The Birmingham Times - African American newspaper | birminghamtimes.com
- Shelby County Reporter - Covers southern Jefferson/Shelby area
- Over the Mountain Journal - Suburban communities
- The Western Star - Bessemer area
Birmingham Public Library Obituary Index
The Birmingham Public Library has one of the best obituary resources in Alabama. The library maintains an index covering multiple newspapers with over 268,000 entries from The Birmingham News alone.
The obituary index includes these newspapers and date ranges:
- Birmingham News from 1917 to 1996
- Birmingham World from 1940 to 1996
- Birmingham Post Herald from 1938 to 1993
- Methodist Christian Advocate from 1925 to 1979
- Shelby County Reporter from 1932 to 1979
- Birmingham Times from 1942 to 1985
The index is free to search online at cobpl.org/localdb/obituaries. You can request copies of obituaries through the library. Staff can help with research for a fee.
| Address | 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 205-226-3600 |
| Genealogy Dept | 205-226-3665 |
The library also has Birmingham News archives from 1993 to 2023 searchable online. For obituaries not in the index, staff can check microfilm and other sources.
Birmingham Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Birmingham post obituaries on their websites. If you know which one handled services, check their site first. Many keep archives going back several years.
- Arrington Funeral Home - 520 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211 | arringtonfuneralhome.com
- Eastside Funeral Home - 827 19th Street Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218 | eastsidefuneralhome.net
- Dante Jelks Funeral Home - 4904 1st Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35222 | jelksfuneralhome.com
- Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens - jmgardens.com
- Mullins Metropolitan Funeral Service - Multiple locations | mullinsfuneralservice.com
- Davenport & Harris Funeral Home - davenportharris.com
Dignity Memorial operates several locations in Birmingham. Their website at dignitymemorial.com has a searchable archive.
How to Find Birmingham Obituaries
For recent obituaries, start with Legacy.com. You can search by name and filter to Birmingham or Jefferson County. Most obituaries from the past few years are there.
For older obituaries, use the Birmingham Public Library index. It covers newspapers from 1917 to 1996. The index is free to search online. Request copies through the library's Ask a Librarian service.
Other search strategies:
- GenealogyBank and Newspapers.com have historical papers (subscription, free at library)
- Find a Grave has burial records for Birmingham cemeteries
- Check funeral home websites if you know which one was used
- Contact the Birmingham Times for African American obituaries
Note: Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After that, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15.
Legal Help in Birmingham
If you need assistance with estate matters, probate, or obtaining records, several organizations can help:
- Legal Services Alabama - Birmingham Office - Free legal help for qualifying residents
- Central Intake Line: 1-866-456-4995
- Alabama State Bar Referral: 800-392-5660
Legal Services Alabama handles probate matters, record access, and civil legal issues. Call the intake line to see if you qualify for free assistance.
Nearby Cities
These Alabama cities near Birmingham also have obituary resources. Some obituaries may appear in newspapers serving multiple areas.
Hoover is just south of Birmingham in Jefferson County (and partially in Shelby County). Tuscaloosa is about 60 miles southwest.
Jefferson County Resources
For complete information about obituary records in Jefferson County, including all cities and communities, visit our county page.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Birmingham, Alabama.