Access Blount County Obituary Records

Blount County obituary records are available through The Blount Countian newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Blount County Memorial Museum in Oneonta. The county has probate records dating to 1824 and marriage, land, and burial records from 1820. The probate court maintains two offices, one in Oneonta and an annex in Hayden. The county archivist can help with historical research when newspaper obituaries are not available. FamilySearch has digitized orphans court minute books going back to 1820 and probate records from 1845 to 1960.

Blount County Probate Court

The Blount County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate files. The county has two offices to serve residents across its large geographic area. Probate records date back to 1824, with marriage, land, and burial records from 1820.

The court offers online services through their website where you can search for records. This can help you find estate files that list family members and death information.

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.

Blount County Newspapers

The Blount Countian is the main newspaper serving Blount County and Oneonta. It publishes obituaries for the local area. You can find current death notices through their print and online editions.

For older obituaries, USGenWeb Archives has transcribed records from historical Blount County newspapers. FamilySearch also has an Alabama Obituaries collection that includes some Blount County records.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of many old Alabama newspapers. They can help if you need to find an obituary from the 1800s or early 1900s that has not been digitized.

GenealogyBank and Newspapers.com may have digitized copies of older Blount County papers. These require subscriptions but many libraries offer free access to one or both services.

Blount County Obituary Resources

The Blount County Memorial Museum in Oneonta can help researchers find local history and genealogy records. They may have obituary clippings or family files not available elsewhere.

The county archivist maintains historical records and can point you in the right direction for genealogy research. Contact the probate office at 205-973-0584 for archivist assistance.

Blount County Funeral Homes

Local funeral homes in Blount County post obituaries on their websites. If you know which funeral home handled services, check their site first as many keep archives going back several years.

Funeral homes in the Oneonta area serve most of Blount County. Some residents also use funeral homes in Birmingham or Gadsden depending on their location within the county.

Dignity Memorial operates locations in the wider region. Their searchable archive at dignitymemorial.com covers all their Alabama funeral homes and might include Blount County obituaries.

Legacy.com collects obituaries from newspapers and funeral homes across Alabama. Search their site for Blount County death notices.

Blount County Historical Records

FamilySearch has free digitized records for Blount County including orphans court minute books from 1820 to 1852 and probate records from 1845 to 1960. These can help you find death dates and family connections.

Alabama Probate Records from 1809 to 1985 and Alabama Estate Files from 1830 to 1976 on FamilySearch cover Blount County. These free resources include wills, inventories, and other estate documents.

USGenWeb Archives maintains transcribed obituaries for Blount County. This is a free volunteer-run site with records that genealogists have contributed over the years.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has additional resources for Blount County research. Their index includes over 100,000 names from historical newspapers across the state.

How to Search Blount County Obituaries

For recent obituaries in Blount County, start with The Blount Countian and Legacy.com. Most obituaries from the past few years will be found in these places.

For older obituaries, check FamilySearch and USGenWeb Archives first since they are free. The county archivist can help with records that are not available online.

Find a Grave has burial records for Blount County cemeteries. This free site can help you find the date of death and burial location, then you can search newspaper archives more effectively.

If you cannot find an obituary, try the probate court online portal. Estate files often list family members and death dates that can help with your research.

Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After that period, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15.

Cities in Blount County

Blount County includes Oneonta (the county seat), Cleveland, Hayden, Locust Fork, Snead, Altoona, Susan Moore, and other communities. Oneonta is the largest town and the location of the main courthouse.

None of the cities in Blount County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a separate city page. For obituary searches in any Blount County city, use the county-level resources on this page.

Nearby Counties

Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. Birmingham newspapers from Jefferson County sometimes carry Blount County obituaries, especially for residents near the southern border.

Blount County is its own judicial circuit (the 41st). However, some residents may have used services or had obituaries published in neighboring counties depending on their location.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Blount County, Alabama.