Elmore County Obituary Lookup
Obituary records for Elmore County can be found through The Wetumpka Herald newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Probate Court in Wetumpka. The county is located just north of Montgomery and has grown quickly in recent years. The Probate Court has estate and will records going back to 1866 that can help with genealogy research. Several funeral homes serve Wetumpka, Millbrook, Prattville, and other communities in the county. The Montgomery Advertiser also covers this area and publishes obituaries for Elmore County residents.
Elmore County Quick Facts
Elmore County Probate Court
The Elmore County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate filings. These records can help when you cannot find an obituary because they list heirs and family members. The court is in the Judicial Complex in Wetumpka.
Elmore County shares the 19th Judicial Circuit with Autauga and Chilton counties. The three counties share some court resources but each has its own Probate Court.
| Address | 8935 Hwy 231, Judicial Complex, Wetumpka, AL 36092 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 310, Wetumpka, AL 36092 |
| Phone | (334) 514-3116 |
| Recording Office | (334) 567-1140 |
| Fax | (334) 567-5957 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | elmoreco.org |
Records available include marriage records from 1867, land records from 1867, probate records from 1866, and military discharge records. The court also has some birth and death records from 1909 to 1913, a period when Alabama counties kept vital records before the state took over.
FamilySearch has digitized many Elmore County records including probate estate case files from 1864 to 1915, probate records from 1866 to 1928, wills from 1866 to 1949, and administration records from 1869 to 1947. You can search these free online.
Elmore County Newspapers
The Wetumpka Herald is the main local newspaper for Elmore County. It publishes obituaries for residents of Wetumpka, Millbrook, Eclectic, Tallassee, and other communities in the county.
The Montgomery Advertiser also covers Elmore County. Since Wetumpka is close to Montgomery, many residents read the Advertiser and obituaries appear there. The Advertiser has a larger circulation and more extensive archives.
Historical newspapers from Elmore County are harder to find online. The State Guard published from 1847 to 1848, but few copies survive. Check with the Alabama Department of Archives and History for microfilm of old Elmore County newspapers.
Current obituaries appear on Legacy.com. Search by name and filter by Wetumpka or Elmore County. Most obituaries post within a day or two of being submitted to the newspaper.
Elmore County Funeral Homes
Several funeral homes serve Elmore County. They post obituaries on their websites and keep archives going back years.
Major funeral homes in Elmore County include:
- Liberty Mortuary at 205 Lancaster Street, Wetumpka (334-478-4201)
- Gassett Funeral Home and Crematory LLC, Wetumpka
- Wetumpka Memorial Funeral Home (Chapel Hill Funeral Home) at 8801 U.S. Highway 231 North (334-567-7880)
- Hillside Memorial and Gardens, Wetumpka
Since Elmore County is close to Montgomery, some families use funeral homes in the capital city. Check funeral homes in Montgomery and Prattville if you cannot find an obituary in Wetumpka area funeral homes.
Call funeral homes directly if you need to find an older obituary. Have the full name and approximate date of death ready. Most keep records for many years.
How to Search Elmore County Obituaries
For recent obituaries, start with Legacy.com. This site collects death notices from newspapers and funeral homes. You can search by name and filter by location.
Other online resources for Elmore County obituaries include:
- Legacy.com Elmore County section at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/elmore-county
- Legacy.com Wetumpka section at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/wetumpka
- Genealogy Trails obituaries at genealogytrails.com/ala/elmore/news_deaths.html
- FamilySearch free probate records from 1809 to 1985
- Find a Grave burial records for Elmore County cemeteries
The Wetumpka Public Library at 212 S Main St in Wetumpka has genealogy resources. Staff can help point you to local records that are not available online.
Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After that time, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Historical Records in Elmore County
Elmore County was created in 1866 from parts of Coosa, Montgomery, Autauga, and Tallapoosa counties. Most records date from that year, though some older records may exist in the parent counties.
FamilySearch has extensive Elmore County records available for free:
- Probate estate case files from 1864 to 1915
- Probate docket and fee book from 1884
- Probate records from 1866 to 1928
- Wills from 1866 to 1949
- Administration records from 1869 to 1947
These records can help you find family connections when obituaries are not available. Probate records list heirs and often provide dates and relationships.
Nearby Counties
Obituaries for Elmore County residents sometimes appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties share borders with Elmore County.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Elmore County, Alabama.