Search Huntsville Obituaries

Huntsville obituary records are available through The Huntsville Times archives, local funeral homes, and the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. As the largest city in Alabama with over 230,000 residents, Huntsville has extensive obituary resources dating back decades. The HMCPL maintains a searchable obituary index that covers The Huntsville Times from 1928 to 2018. This is the best free resource for finding older death notices in the Rocket City. Local funeral homes like Spry and Laughlin Service post recent obituaries on their websites. Legacy.com has current listings from area newspapers.

Madison County Records Office

Huntsville residents file vital records through the Madison County Probate Court. The probate office handles death certificates, estate records, and probate files that can help with obituary research when you need to verify dates or find family information.

The Madison County Probate Court has two locations. The main office is at the courthouse downtown. There's also an archives facility in Owens Cross Roads that holds historical records. Both can help with genealogy research.

Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-22, death records are available through the probate court. Death certificates less than 25 years old require proof of relationship to obtain. Older records are open to anyone.

Huntsville Newspapers with Obituaries

The Huntsville Times is the main newspaper for obituaries in the area. It has published since 1816, making it one of the oldest papers in Alabama. The paper merged with AL.com for online content but still prints obituaries daily.

Current Huntsville obituaries appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/huntsville. You can search by name and filter results by date. Most recent obituaries going back several years are there.

For older obituaries, the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library has an index. It covers The Huntsville Times from 1928 through 2018. The library also has microfilm of the paper if you need to see the full obituary or get a copy.

Other publications covering Huntsville include:

• The Huntsville Item (historical)
• Speakin' Out News (African American community)
• Valley Planet

Huntsville-Madison County Public Library

The HMCPL Special Collections department is the best place for obituary research in Huntsville. They maintain a free searchable obituary index online at obits.hmcpl.org. This database is easy to use and has thousands of entries.

The library's obituary index covers these date ranges:

• The Huntsville Times: 1928 to 2018
• Various clipping files and donated indexes
• Methodist Church records

Staff can help you find obituaries not in the online index. They offer research services by phone or email. You can request photocopies of obituaries for $5 each.

The library has microfilm of The Huntsville Times from 1928 to 2018. You can view it on site using their microfilm readers. For older records, check the Madison County Archives in Owens Cross Roads.

Huntsville Funeral Homes

Funeral homes in Huntsville post obituaries on their websites. If you know which one handled services, check there first. Many keep archives going back years. Here are the major funeral homes serving Huntsville:

• Spry Funeral Home & Crematory - 2411 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville, AL 35810 | Phone: 256-536-6654 | spryfuneralhomes.com
• Laughlin Service Funeral Home & Crematory - laughlinservice.com
• Nelms Memorial Funeral Home - 2501 Carmichael Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35816 | Phone: 256-539-8189 | nelmsmemorial.net
• Royal Funeral Home, Inc. - Serves the Huntsville area

Dignity Memorial operates several locations in the Huntsville area. Their website at dignitymemorial.com has a searchable obituary archive covering all their Alabama locations.

How to Find Huntsville Obituaries

Start with the HMCPL obituary index for historical searches. It's free and covers 90 years of The Huntsville Times. For recent obituaries from the past few years, use Legacy.com. You can search by name and narrow results to Huntsville.

If you can't find what you need online, try these steps:

• Contact the funeral home if you know which one was used
• Call the HMCPL Special Collections department
• Check Find a Grave for burial records that may have obituary info
• Search GenealogyBank or Newspapers.com (subscription required, free at library)

For death certificates, contact the Madison County Probate Court or the Alabama Department of Public Health. Certificates cost $15 for a search and first copy. Additional copies from the same order are $6 each.

Note: Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After that period, anyone can get a copy.

Legal Help in Huntsville

If you need legal help with estate matters, probate, or obtaining records, several organizations offer assistance in Huntsville:

• Legal Services Alabama - Huntsville Office - Free legal help for qualifying residents
• Central Intake Line: 1-866-456-4995
• Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral: 800-392-5660

Legal Services Alabama can help with probate matters, accessing records, and other civil legal issues. Call the central intake line to see if you qualify for free help.

Nearby Cities

These Alabama cities near Huntsville also have obituary resources. Some obituaries may appear in papers serving these areas.

Madison is just south of Huntsville in the same county. Both cities share the Madison County Probate Court and HMCPL library resources. Decatur is about 25 miles southwest in Morgan County.

Madison County Resources

For complete information about obituary records in Madison County, including all cities and rural areas, visit our county page.

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