Franklin County Obituary Lookup
Obituary records for Franklin County are available through the Franklin County Times newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Probate Court in Russellville. Located in northwest Alabama near the Shoals area, Franklin County has records dating back to 1890. The Probate Court maintains estate and will records that can help with genealogy research when obituaries are not available. The county has a mix of rural communities and the larger city of Russellville. Local funeral homes keep obituary archives on their websites and can search older records if you call them.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Probate Court
The Franklin County Probate Court handles wills, estates, and probate filings. These records can help when obituaries are not available because they list heirs and family members. The court is in the courthouse on Jackson Avenue in Russellville.
Franklin County shares the 34th Judicial Circuit with Marion County. The Probate Court is open weekdays and staff can help you find records, though they cannot do research for you.
| Address | 410 N Jackson Ave, Russellville, AL 35653 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 70, Russellville, AL 35653 |
| Phone (Probate) | (256) 332-8801 |
| Phone (Office) | (256) 332-8800 |
| Fax | (256) 332-8423 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | franklincountyal.org |
Records available include marriage records from 1890, probate records from 1890, and land records from 1890. You can search some records online at ingprobate.com/Franklin_Probate/.
Note that Franklin County records start from 1890 because earlier records were lost. If you need records from before 1890, check with the Alabama Department of Archives and History or look in neighboring counties where ancestors may have lived.
Franklin County Newspapers
The Franklin County Times is the main local newspaper for Russellville and Franklin County. It publishes obituaries for local residents.
Current obituaries appear on the newspaper website and on Legacy.com. To submit an obituary, contact the funeral home handling services. They coordinate with the newspaper to publish death notices.
Since Franklin County is near the Shoals area, the TimesDaily in Florence also covers this region. Some Franklin County residents have obituaries in that larger paper. Check both if you cannot find what you need in the Franklin County Times.
For historical obituaries, check newspaper archive services like Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm of old Franklin County newspapers.
Franklin County Funeral Homes
Several funeral homes serve Franklin County. They post obituaries on their websites and keep archives going back years.
Major funeral homes in Franklin County include:
- Pinkard Funeral Home, Russellville
- Spry Memorial Chapel, Russellville
- Area funeral homes in Phil Campbell and Red Bay
Call funeral homes directly if you need to find an older obituary. Have the full name of the deceased and approximate date of death ready. Many keep paper records going back decades.
Some families in Franklin County use funeral homes in Florence, Muscle Shoals, or Decatur. If you cannot find an obituary locally, check funeral homes in those larger cities.
How to Search Franklin County Obituaries
For recent obituaries, start with Legacy.com. Search by name and filter by Alabama or Franklin County. Most obituaries from the past few years are there.
For older obituaries and genealogy research:
- USGenWeb Archives Project for Franklin County
- FamilySearch free Alabama probate records from 1809 to 1985
- Find a Grave for burial records in Franklin County cemeteries
- Obituary collections from the USGenWeb Franklin County page
The Russellville Public Library has genealogy resources and may have obituary indexes or clipping files not available online. Staff can help point you to local records.
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 Note
Franklin County lost some early records. The current records at the Probate Court start from 1890 for most record types. If you are researching family from before 1890, you may need to look in other places.
Try these resources for pre-1890 research:
- Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery
- FamilySearch digitized records (some pre-date 1890)
- Neighboring county records (ancestors may have lived there)
- Census records from 1820-1890
- Church records and cemetery records
The Shoals area was settled early in Alabama history. Some families moved between counties frequently. Check Lauderdale, Colbert, Lawrence, and Marion county records if you cannot find what you need in Franklin County.
Nearby Counties
Obituaries for Franklin County residents sometimes appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties share borders with Franklin County.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Franklin County, Alabama.