Search Chambers County Obituary Records
Chambers County obituary records are available through The LaFayette Sun newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Chambers County Library. The county has two probate office locations, one in Lafayette and one in Lanett. Marriage records date back to 1833, with probate and land records from 1843. The LaFayette Sun archives are available on Newspapers.com from 1882 to 1964 and on GenealogyBank from 2012 to present. FamilySearch has Alabama probate records and estate files covering the county. MyHeritage has a United States Obituary Index that includes Chambers County entries.
Chambers County Quick Facts
Chambers County Probate Court
The Chambers County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate files. The county has two office locations to serve residents across the county. Marriage records date back to 1833, with probate and land records from 1843.
Both offices are open during the same hours. You can visit either location depending on which is more convenient for you.
| Lafayette Office | 2 S Lafayette St, Lafayette, AL 36862 |
|---|---|
| Lafayette Phone | (334) 864-4380 |
| Lanett Office | 610 S Gilmer Ave, Lanett, AL 36863 |
| Hours | 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST |
| Website | chamberscountyal.gov/departments/probate-office |
| Circuit Court | chambers.alacourt.gov |
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files.
Chambers County Newspapers
The LaFayette Sun is the main newspaper serving Chambers County. Historical copies are available through two sources:
- Newspapers.com has archives from 1882 to 1964
- GenealogyBank has archives from October 2012 to present
For obituaries between 1964 and 2012, you may need to contact the newspaper directly or check with local libraries for microfilm copies.
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 obituaries from time periods not covered by the online databases.
Legacy.com collects obituaries from newspapers and funeral homes across Alabama. Search their site for current Chambers County death notices.
Chambers County Obituary Resources
The Chambers County Library in Lafayette can help researchers find local obituary records. They may have clipping files or microfilm not available online.
FamilySearch has free access to Alabama Probate Records from 1809 to 1985 and Estate Files from 1830 to 1976 that cover Chambers County. Southeastern Genealogy has transcribed wills from 1833 to 1856.
Chambers County Funeral Homes
Local funeral homes in Lafayette and Lanett 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.
Chambers County is near the Georgia border. Some residents may have used funeral homes in West Point, Georgia or other nearby Georgia cities. Check both Alabama and Georgia resources if you cannot find an obituary.
Dignity Memorial operates locations across the region. Their searchable archive at dignitymemorial.com covers all their funeral homes in Alabama and Georgia.
Legacy.com is another good resource for finding funeral home obituaries. They aggregate death notices from multiple sources.
Chambers County Historical Records
FamilySearch has free digitized records for Chambers County including probate records from 1809 to 1985 and estate files from 1830 to 1976. These records can help you find death dates and family connections.
Southeastern Genealogy has transcribed Chambers County wills from 1833 to 1856. This is a valuable resource for early records.
MyHeritage has a United States Obituary Index that includes Chambers County entries. This can help you locate obituaries published in various newspapers.
USGenWeb Archives maintains transcribed records for Chambers County. This free volunteer-run site has records that genealogists have contributed over the years.
How to Search Chambers County Obituaries
For recent obituaries in Chambers County, start with Legacy.com and GenealogyBank (which has The LaFayette Sun from 2012 forward). Most obituaries from the past decade will be found through these sources.
For older obituaries, Newspapers.com has The LaFayette Sun from 1882 to 1964. FamilySearch has probate records that might include death information when newspaper obituaries are not available.
Find a Grave has burial records for Chambers County cemeteries. This free site can help you find the date of death and burial location, then you can search newspaper archives more effectively.
The probate court in Lafayette or Lanett can help you locate estate files. These records often list family members and death dates.
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 Chambers County
Chambers County includes Lafayette (the county seat), Lanett, Valley, Wadley, Five Points, and other communities. The county borders Georgia and some residents have connections to communities on both sides of the state line.
None of the cities in Chambers County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a separate city page. Auburn in neighboring Lee County is the nearest qualifying city. For obituary searches in any Chambers County city, use the county-level resources on this page.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. Lee County newspapers from Auburn and Opelika sometimes carry Chambers County obituaries.
Chambers County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit. Some court records might overlap with other counties in this circuit. The county also borders Troup County and Harris County in Georgia.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Chambers County, Alabama.