Colbert County Obituary Records

Colbert County obituary records are available through the TimesDaily newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Tuscumbia-Helen Keller Public Library. Judge Daniel Rosser oversees the probate court. Marriage records date back to 1877 and land records go back to about 1867. The probate court has an online portal available through their website. Colbert County is part of the Shoals area along with Lauderdale County, and the TimesDaily serves both counties. FamilySearch has Alabama Probate Records and Estate Files covering the county. The recording department is located on the bottom floor of the courthouse.

Colbert County Probate Court

The Colbert County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate files. Judge Daniel Rosser oversees the court. Marriage records date back to 1877 and land records go back to about 1867. The recording department is located on the bottom floor of the courthouse.

The probate office has an online portal available through their website for searching records.

Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files.

Colbert County Newspapers

The TimesDaily is the main newspaper serving the Shoals area, which includes Colbert County and Lauderdale County. It covers Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield. The paper publishes obituaries for the entire region.

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

Legacy.com collects obituaries from the TimesDaily and funeral homes in the area. Search their site for current Colbert County death notices.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of many old Alabama newspapers that can be searched for historical obituaries.

Colbert County Obituary Resources

The Tuscumbia-Helen Keller Public Library can help researchers find local obituary records. They are located at 511 North Main Street, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. Phone: 256-383-7065.

The Colbert County Public Library also maintains local archives that may include obituary clippings and genealogy resources.

Colbert County Funeral Homes

Local funeral homes in Tuscumbia and the Muscle Shoals 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.

The Shoals area includes Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Florence (in Lauderdale County). Funeral homes may serve residents across both counties, so check resources for both Colbert and Lauderdale Counties.

Legacy.com is another good resource for finding funeral home obituaries. They aggregate death notices from multiple sources.

Dignity Memorial operates locations across the region. Their searchable archive at dignitymemorial.com covers all their funeral homes.

Colbert County Historical Records

FamilySearch has free digitized records for Colbert County including Alabama Probate Records from 1809 to 1985 and Alabama Estate Files from 1830 to 1976. These records can help you find death dates and family connections.

FamilySearch also has an Alabama Obituaries collection that includes some Colbert County records.

USGenWeb Archives maintains transcribed records for Colbert County. This free volunteer-run site has obituaries and death notices that genealogists have contributed over the years.

Ancestry.com includes Alabama probate records covering Colbert County. Many libraries offer free access to Ancestry Library Edition.

How to Search Colbert County Obituaries

For recent obituaries in Colbert County, start with the TimesDaily 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 probate court online portal can help you search for estate files that might include death information.

Find a Grave has burial records for Colbert 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 Tuscumbia-Helen Keller Public Library at 256-383-7065 can help with local 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 Colbert County

Colbert County includes Tuscumbia (the county seat), Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and other communities. Together with Florence in Lauderdale County, these cities make up the Shoals metropolitan area.

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

Nearby Counties

Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. The TimesDaily in Florence serves both Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, so many obituaries appear in that paper.

Colbert County is part of the 31st Judicial Circuit. Some court records might overlap with other areas depending on where cases were filed. The county also borders Tishomingo County in Mississippi.

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