Clarke County Obituary Search
Clarke County obituary records are available through The Clarke County Democrat newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Clarke County Historical Society. Marriage and probate records date back to 1814, with land records from 1820, making Clarke County one of the oldest in Alabama. The probate office has an online portal available with free account creation. FamilySearch has estate case files from 1810 to 1915 and orphan's court minutes from 1829 to 1850. Genealogy Trails has a collection of transcribed obituaries. Copies of records cost $1 per page with a $3 fee for clerk certification.
Clarke County Quick Facts
Clarke County Probate Court
The Clarke County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate files. Clarke County has some of the oldest records in Alabama, with marriage and probate records dating back to 1814 and land records from 1820.
The probate office offers an online portal where you can search records. A free account is required to access the portal.
| Address | 114 Court Street, Grove Hill, AL 36451 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 10, Grove Hill, AL 36451 |
| Phone | (251) 275-3251 |
| Fax | (251) 275-8427 |
| Hours | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST |
| Copy Fees | $1 per page; $3 certification fee per instrument |
| Website | clarkecountyal.com/probate |
| Circuit Court | clarke.alacourt.gov |
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files.
Clarke County Newspapers
The Clarke County Democrat is the main newspaper serving Grove Hill and Clarke County. It publishes obituaries for the local area.
Genealogy Trails has transcribed obituaries from Clarke County at genealogytrails.com/ala/clarke/obits.html. This free resource includes historical death notices.
USGenWeb Archives through the Clarke County ALGenWeb page has additional obituary transcriptions and genealogy resources.
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 1800s or early 1900s.
Clarke County Obituary Resources
The Clarke County Historical Society can help researchers find local obituary records. They are located at 116 West Cobb St, PO Box 388, Grove Hill, AL 36451. Phone: 251-275-8684.
FamilySearch has free access to Clarke County records including estate case files from 1810 to 1915 and orphan's court minutes from 1829 to 1850. These records can help you find death dates and family connections.
Clarke County Funeral Homes
Local funeral homes in the Grove Hill 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.
Clarke County is rural and some residents may have used funeral homes in Mobile or other larger cities depending on family preferences and location within the county.
Legacy.com collects obituaries from newspapers and funeral homes across Alabama. Search their site for Clarke County death notices.
Dignity Memorial operates locations across the region. Their searchable archive at dignitymemorial.com covers all their funeral homes.
Clarke County Historical Records
Clarke County has some of the oldest records in Alabama. FamilySearch has free digitized records including:
- Estate Case Files from 1810 to 1915
- Orphan's Court Minutes from 1829 to 1850
The probate office online portal (free account required) provides access to marriage, probate, and land records dating back to the early 1800s.
USGenWeb Archives through Clarke County ALGenWeb has additional genealogy resources and transcribed records.
The Clarke County Historical Society maintains local files and can help with research that requires visiting in person or accessing materials not available online.
How to Search Clarke County Obituaries
For recent obituaries in Clarke County, start with The Clarke County Democrat and Legacy.com. Most obituaries from the past few years will be found through these sources.
For older obituaries, check Genealogy Trails and FamilySearch first since they are free. The probate office online portal can help you search for estate files that might include death information.
Find a Grave has burial records for Clarke 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 Clarke County Historical Society at 251-275-8684 can help with records that are not available online.
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 Clarke County
Clarke County includes Grove Hill (the county seat), Jackson, Thomasville, Coffeeville, and other communities. Grove Hill is where the courthouse is located.
None of the cities in Clarke County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a separate city page. For obituary searches in any Clarke County city, use the county-level resources on this page.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. Mobile is the nearest large city, and Mobile newspapers sometimes carry Clarke County obituaries.
Clarke County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit along with Choctaw County. Some court records might overlap between these counties depending on where cases were filed.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Clarke County, Alabama.