Dale County Obituary Search
Obituary records in Dale County can be found through local newspapers, funeral homes, and the Probate Court in Ozark. The Southern Star newspaper has published death notices for Dale County residents for many years. The Probate Court maintains estate and will records that often list family members and can help when an obituary is not available. Fort Rucker, a major Army installation in Dale County, means many military families have ties to this area. Funeral homes in Ozark and nearby towns post obituaries on their websites and keep archives going back several years.
Dale County Quick Facts
Dale County Probate Court
The Dale County Probate Court handles estate matters like wills, probate filings, and estate settlements. These records can be useful when you cannot find an obituary because they often list heirs and family members. The court also has marriage records and land records that can help with genealogy research.
Dale County shares the 33rd Judicial Circuit with Geneva County. The Probate Court is in the courthouse in downtown Ozark. Staff can help you find records but cannot do research for you.
| Address | 100 E. Court Square, Ozark, AL 36360 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 580, Ozark, AL 36361 |
| Phone | (334) 774-2754 |
| probate.judge@dalecountyal.gov | |
| Hours | Monday - Thursday, 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM |
| Website | probate.dalecountyal.gov |
Records available at the Dale County Probate Court include marriage records from 1884, probate records from 1884, and land records. The Circuit Clerk has court records and divorce records from 1885. You can search some records online through the county website.
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files after the estate is closed.
Dale County Newspapers
The Southern Star is the main newspaper serving Dale County and Ozark. It publishes obituaries for local residents and has done so for many decades.
Historical newspapers from Dale County are harder to find online. Some archives exist through subscription services like Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of old newspapers from across the state.
To submit an obituary to local papers, contact the funeral home handling services. They typically work with newspapers to publish death notices. Current obituaries often appear on Legacy.com within a day or two of being submitted.
For older obituaries, you may need to visit the local library or contact the Dale County Genealogy and History Network. They have volunteers who help with research and may have indexes or clippings files.
Dale County Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Dale County post obituaries on their websites. If you know which funeral home handled services, check their site first. Many keep online archives for several years.
Major funeral homes serving Dale County include:
- Holman Funeral Home and Cremations, Ozark
- Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home, Ozark
- Ward Wilson Funeral Home
- Sorrells Funeral Home
The Wiregrass area, which includes Dale County, has several funeral homes that serve multiple counties. Check funeral homes in Dothan and Enterprise if you cannot find an obituary in Ozark area funeral homes.
Most funeral homes will look up old records if you call them. Have the approximate date of death and the full name of the deceased ready when you call. Some may charge a small fee to search older archives.
How to Search Dale County Obituaries
Start your search with Legacy.com for recent obituaries. This site collects death notices from newspapers and funeral homes across the country. Search by name and filter by Alabama or Dale County.
For older records, try these resources:
- FamilySearch has free access to Alabama probate records from 1809 to 1985
- USGenWeb Archives has transcribed obituaries and death notices
- Find a Grave lists burial records for Dale County cemeteries
- The Dale County Genealogy and History Network keeps local records
The Dale County Genealogy and History Network is at 416 James Street in Ozark. You can email them at alghn@outlook.com. They have volunteers who can help with research.
Death certificates in Alabama are restricted for 25 years under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21. After 25 years, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Obituaries are not official records. They are published by families through funeral homes and newspapers. If you need proof of death for legal purposes, you will need to get a death certificate from the state.
Fort Rucker and Military Records
Fort Rucker (now called Fort Novosel) is a major Army installation in Dale County. Many military families have lived in this area over the years. If you are looking for an obituary of someone with military ties, there are extra resources to check.
Military obituaries sometimes appear in Stars and Stripes or other military publications. The National Personnel Records Center has military service records that may help with research. Local funeral homes near military bases often have experience with military honors and may have records of service members.
Veterans cemeteries and military sections of local cemeteries may have burial records that help you find the date of death. From there, you can search newspaper archives for the obituary.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties border Dale County.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Dale County, Alabama.