Chilton County Obituary Records
Chilton County obituary records are available through The Clanton Advertiser newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Chilton County Historical Society. Judge Jason L. Calhoun oversees the probate court. Note that a courthouse fire in 1870 (when the county was still called Baker County) destroyed early records, so probate and divorce records only go back to 1868. FamilySearch has estate case files from 1868 to 1919, administrators records from 1870 to 1906, and inventory and appraisement records from 1871 to 1903. A compiled resource covering 1868 to 1924 includes probate court records, newspaper abstracts, and Confederate veterans information.
Chilton County Quick Facts
Chilton County Probate Court
The Chilton County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate files. Judge Jason L. Calhoun oversees the court, with Chief Clerk Shannon Brown managing day-to-day operations. Due to a courthouse fire in 1870, probate and divorce records only go back to 1868.
The county was originally named Baker County. It was renamed Chilton County in 1874.
| Address | 500 2nd Avenue N, Clanton, AL 35045 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | PO Box 270, Clanton, AL 35046 |
| Phone | (205) 755-1555 |
| Fax | (205) 280-7219 |
| probate@chiltoncounty.org | |
| Website | chiltoncounty.org/probate-office |
| Circuit Court | chilton.alacourt.gov |
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files.
Chilton County Newspapers
The Clanton Advertiser is the main newspaper serving Chilton County. It publishes obituaries for Clanton and the surrounding area.
For older obituaries, USGenWeb Archives has transcribed death notices from historical Chilton County newspapers. A compiled resource titled "Chilton County, Alabama: index to probate court records, abstracts of county newspapers, county Confederate veterans" covers the period from 1868 to 1924.
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 the late 1800s or early 1900s.
Legacy.com collects obituaries from newspapers and funeral homes across Alabama. Search their site for current Chilton County death notices.
Chilton County Obituary Resources
The Chilton County Historical Society can help researchers find local obituary records. They are located at PO Box 644, Clanton, AL 35046-0644. Phone: 205-755-1768. Email: president@chiltoncountyhistoricalsociety.org
FamilySearch has free access to several Chilton County record collections including estate case files from 1868 to 1919, administrators records from 1870 to 1906, and inventory and appraisement records from 1871 to 1903.
Chilton County Funeral Homes
Local funeral homes in the Clanton area 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.
Chilton County is located along Interstate 65 between Birmingham and Montgomery. Some residents may have used funeral homes in those larger cities depending on family preferences.
Dignity Memorial operates locations across Alabama. Their searchable archive at dignitymemorial.com covers all their funeral homes.
Legacy.com is another good resource for finding funeral home obituaries. They aggregate death notices from multiple sources.
Chilton County Historical Records
A courthouse fire in 1870 destroyed early Chilton County records. The county was still called Baker County at that time. Records after the fire have been preserved:
FamilySearch has free digitized records including:
- Estate Case Files from 1868 to 1919
- Administrators Records from 1870 to 1906
- Inventory and Appraisement Records from 1871 to 1903
The compiled resource "Chilton County, Alabama: index to probate court records, abstracts of county newspapers, county Confederate veterans" covers 1868 to 1924 and is available at some genealogy libraries.
USGenWeb Archives maintains transcribed obituaries for Chilton County. This free volunteer-run site has records that genealogists have contributed over the years.
How to Search Chilton County Obituaries
For recent obituaries in Chilton County, start with The Clanton Advertiser and Legacy.com. Most obituaries from the past few years will be found through these sources.
For older obituaries, check FamilySearch and USGenWeb Archives first since they are free. The Chilton County Historical Society can help with records that are not available online.
Find a Grave has burial records for Chilton County cemeteries. This free site can help you find the date of death and burial location, then you can search newspaper archives more effectively.
Due to the courthouse fire, records before 1868 are limited. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery may have additional resources for early 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 Chilton County
Chilton County includes Clanton (the county seat), Jemison, Thorsby, Maplesville, and other communities. Clanton is the largest city and location of the courthouse. The county is known as the "Peach Capital of Alabama."
None of the cities in Chilton County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a separate city page. For obituary searches in any Chilton County city, use the county-level resources on this page.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. Birmingham and Montgomery newspapers sometimes carry Chilton County obituaries since the county sits between these two major cities.
Chilton County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit along with Autauga and Elmore Counties. Some court records might overlap between these counties depending on where cases were filed.
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