Tuscaloosa Obituary Records

Tuscaloosa obituary records are available through the Tuscaloosa News, local funeral homes, and the Tuscaloosa Public Library. Home to the University of Alabama, this city of over 114,000 has solid resources for finding death notices. The library maintains an obituary index covering the Tuscaloosa News from 1942 to 1992. It also has an index for the Alabama Citizen, an African American newspaper from the 1940s. Legacy.com posts current obituaries daily. Tuscaloosa Thread is a local publication that shares obituaries online. Funeral homes throughout the area maintain their own archives as well.

Tuscaloosa County Probate Court

Tuscaloosa residents file vital records through the Tuscaloosa County Probate Court. The probate office handles death certificates, wills, estate files, and marriage records. These records can help verify death dates and find family connections when obituaries are unavailable.

The Tuscaloosa County Probate Court is at the county courthouse downtown. Staff can help you access probate files, estate records, and certified copies of vital records.

Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-14, death certificates must be filed within 5 days. The probate court keeps copies going back many years.

Tuscaloosa Newspapers with Obituaries

The Tuscaloosa News is the main newspaper for obituaries in the area. It has been the primary paper for the region for decades. Microfilm archives are available at the Tuscaloosa Public Library.

Current obituaries appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/tuscaloosa-area. You can search by name and filter by date.

Tuscaloosa Thread is a local online publication that posts obituaries at tuscaloosathread.com/category/obits. This is a free resource for recent death notices in the area.

Tuscaloosa Public Library

The Tuscaloosa Public Library has excellent genealogy resources on the second floor. The Local History and Genealogy department maintains obituary indexes and newspaper archives.

The library's obituary index covers:

• Tuscaloosa News Obituary Index: 1942 to 1992
• Alabama Citizen Obituary Index (African American newspaper): June 1944 to March 1947
• Tuscaloosa News in bound volumes for the last 50 years

The library has two microfilm readers plus a digital reader. Staff can help you search and make copies. Ancestry Library Edition is available for in-library use.

Tuscaloosa Funeral Homes

Funeral homes in Tuscaloosa post obituaries on their websites. If you know which one handled services, check their site first. Many keep archives going back several years.

• Tuscaloosa Memorial Park and Chapel - tuscaloosamemorial.com
• Rainey Mortuary Service LLC - raineymortuary.com
• Van Hoose & Steele Funeral Home - Serving since 1923 | vanhooseandsteele.com

Dignity Memorial operates locations in the Tuscaloosa area. Their website at dignitymemorial.com has a searchable obituary archive.

How to Find Tuscaloosa Obituaries

For recent obituaries, start with Legacy.com or Tuscaloosa Thread. Both are free and easy to search. Most obituaries from the past few years are available.

For older obituaries from 1942 to 1992, use the Tuscaloosa Public Library obituary index. Staff can help you locate specific records and make copies.

Other search strategies:

• Check funeral home websites if you know which one was used
• Search Find a Grave for burial records in Tuscaloosa cemeteries
• Use GenealogyBank or Newspapers.com (subscription, free at library)
• Contact University of Alabama libraries for additional resources

For death certificates, contact Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa

If you need assistance with estate matters, probate, or obtaining records, several organizations can help:

• Legal Services Alabama - Tuscaloosa Office - Free legal help for qualifying residents
• University of Alabama Law Clinics - Civil Law Clinic and Domestic Violence Law Clinic
• Central Intake Line: 1-866-456-4995

The University of Alabama law students provide free legal services through their clinics. This can be helpful for probate matters and record access issues.

Nearby Cities

These Alabama cities near Tuscaloosa also have obituary resources. Some obituaries may appear in newspapers serving multiple areas.

Birmingham is about 60 miles northeast. Hoover is roughly 50 miles east in the Birmingham metro area.

Tuscaloosa County Resources

For complete information about obituary records in Tuscaloosa County, including all cities and communities, visit our county page.

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