Access Decatur Obituary Records
Decatur obituary records are available through The Decatur Daily newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Morgan County Archives. This city of nearly 58,000 is the largest in Morgan County and has excellent historical records. The Morgan County Archives has marriage records from 1821, birth and death indexes from 1892, and newspaper indexes from 1919 to 1977. The Decatur Daily publishes obituaries daily and posts them online. Note that the paper only accepts obituaries from funeral homes or with executor documentation. Legacy.com has current Decatur obituaries searchable by name.
Decatur Quick Facts
Morgan County Probate Court
Decatur residents file vital records through the Morgan County Probate Court. The probate office handles death certificates, wills, estate files, and marriage records. Judge Greg Cain oversees the court.
Decatur is the county seat of Morgan County, so the probate court is conveniently located in the city. The courthouse is downtown on Lee Street.
| Address | 302 Lee Street Northeast, Decatur, AL 35601 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 848, Decatur, AL 35602 |
| Phone | 256-351-4600 |
| Judge Direct | 256-351-4675 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | morgancounty-al.gov/government/probate-office |
Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-14, death certificates must be filed within 5 days. The probate court keeps copies going back many years.
Decatur Newspapers with Obituaries
The Decatur Daily is the main newspaper for the city and Morgan County. It publishes obituaries daily on its website at decaturdaily.com/obituaries.
Important: The Decatur Daily only accepts obituaries from funeral homes or individuals with executor documentation. You cannot submit an obituary directly without proper credentials.
Current obituaries also appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/decatur. The paper also publishes death notices separately at decaturdaily.com/obituaries/death_notices.
The Hartselle Enquirer also covers Morgan County and publishes local obituaries.
Morgan County Archives
The Morgan County Archives is an excellent resource for historical Decatur obituaries. Archivist John Allison oversees a collection that includes records dating back to 1818.
The archives holds:
- Marriage records from July 18, 1821 to August 6, 1936
- Birth and death indexes from 1892 to 1912
- Wills and probate records from 1818 to present
- Newspaper indexes from 1919 to 1977
- Mortality schedules from 1850 to 1885
| Location | Decatur, AL |
|---|---|
| Phone | 256-351-4726 |
| jallison@morgancounty-al.gov | |
| Hours | Tuesday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
The newspaper indexes covering 1919 to 1977 were created by volunteers and can help locate historical obituaries. Staff can assist with research.
Decatur Public Library
The Decatur Public Library has genealogy resources in the Alabama Room on the second floor. This includes local histories, microfilmed newspapers, census records, and family histories.
| Address | 504 Cherry St NE, Decatur, AL 35601 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 256-353-2993 |
| Website | mydpl.org |
| Hours | Mon-Thu 10AM-7PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-5PM |
The library has microfilmed newspapers and city directories that can help with obituary research.
Decatur Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Decatur post obituaries on their websites. They are also the primary way to submit obituaries to The Decatur Daily.
- Reynolds Funeral Home - Decatur, AL | reynoldsfh.com
- Roselawn Funeral Home - Decatur area
Dignity Memorial operates locations in the Decatur area. Their website at dignitymemorial.com has a searchable obituary archive.
How to Find Decatur Obituaries
For recent obituaries, start with The Decatur Daily website or Legacy.com. Both are free and searchable by name. Most obituaries from the past few years are available.
For historical obituaries, use these resources:
- Morgan County Archives has newspaper indexes from 1919-1977
- NewspaperObituaries.net has 25+ indexes for Morgan County
- Linkpendium has Morgan County genealogy links
- Decatur Public Library has microfilmed newspapers
- Find a Grave for burial records
For death certificates, contact Morgan County Probate Court or the Alabama Department of Public Health. The fee is $15 for a search and first copy. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, certificates less than 25 years old have access restrictions.
Legal Help in Decatur
If you need assistance with estate matters, probate, or obtaining records:
- Legal Services Alabama - Free legal help for qualifying residents
- Central Intake Line: 1-866-456-4995
Legal Services Alabama handles probate matters, record access, and civil legal issues. Call the intake line to check if you qualify for free services.
Nearby Cities
These Alabama cities near Decatur also have obituary resources.
Huntsville is about 25 miles east. Madison is roughly 20 miles east. Both are in Madison County and share different resources from Morgan County.
Morgan County Resources
For complete information about obituary records in Morgan County, including Decatur and surrounding areas, visit our county page.
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