Jefferson County Obituary Records
Jefferson County obituary records can be found through local newspapers, funeral homes, and the Birmingham Public Library. This is the most populous county in Alabama and has the largest collection of obituary resources. The Birmingham News has published obituaries since the late 1800s. The library maintains an obituary index covering several area newspapers. Funeral homes across Jefferson County post death notices on their websites. Whether you need a recent obituary or historical records, multiple sources are available for Jefferson County obituary research.
Jefferson County Quick Facts
Jefferson County Probate Court
The Jefferson County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate records. These records often name family members and can help when you cannot find an obituary. The court has two divisions that serve different parts of the county.
The Birmingham Division serves the eastern part of Jefferson County. The Bessemer Division handles the western portion. Both offices maintain marriage records, probate files, and land records.
| Birmingham Division | 716 N Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 325-5420 |
| Bessemer Division | 1801 3rd Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020 |
| Phone | (205) 481-4100 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Website | jeffcoprobatecourt.com |
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files. These records may list heirs and family members that can help with genealogy research in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County Newspapers
Several newspapers serve Jefferson County and publish obituaries. The Birmingham News is the largest paper in the area and has the most extensive obituary archives.
The Birmingham News has published since 1888. Its archives are available through several sources. GenealogyBank has Birmingham News obituaries searchable by name. AL.com posts current obituaries online. The Birmingham Public Library has an index of obituaries from the paper.
Other newspapers that publish Jefferson County obituaries include:
- The Birmingham Times
- Shelby County Reporter
- Over the Mountain Journal
- The Western Star (Bessemer)
To submit an obituary to The Birmingham News, email birmobit@obituaries.com or call 888-823-8554. Current obituaries appear on Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/birmingham.
Birmingham Public Library Obituary Index
The Birmingham Public Library has one of the best obituary resources in Alabama. The library maintains an index covering multiple Jefferson County newspapers.
The obituary index includes these newspapers and date ranges:
- Birmingham News from 1917 to 1996
- Birmingham World from 1940 to 1996
- Birmingham Post Herald from 1938 to 1993
- Methodist Christian Advocate from 1925 to 1979
- Shelby County Reporter from 1932 to 1979
- Birmingham Times from 1942 to 1985
The index is free to search online at cobpl.org/localdb/obituaries. It contains over 268,000 entries from the Birmingham News alone. You can request copies of obituaries through the library. Staff can help with research for a fee.
| Library Address | 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (205) 226-3600 |
| Genealogy Department | (205) 226-3665 |
Jefferson County Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Jefferson County post obituaries on their websites. If you know which funeral home handled services, check their site first. Many keep archives going back several years.
Major funeral homes serving Jefferson County include:
- Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens
- Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home (Hoover)
- Arrington Funeral Home
- Eastside Funeral Home
- Dante Jelks Funeral Home
- Mullins Metropolitan Funeral Service
- Davenport and Harris Funeral Home
Dignity Memorial operates several locations in the Birmingham area. Their website at dignitymemorial.com has a searchable obituary archive covering all their Alabama locations.
How to Search Jefferson County Obituaries
For recent obituaries in Jefferson County, start with Legacy.com. Search by name and filter by Birmingham or Jefferson County. Most obituaries from the past few years are there.
For older obituaries, use the Birmingham Public Library index. It covers newspapers from 1917 to 1996. The index is free to search online. Request copies through the library.
GenealogyBank and Newspapers.com have historical Jefferson County newspapers. These require a subscription, but many are free at local libraries. Ask your library about Ancestry Library Edition access.
Find a Grave has burial records for Jefferson County cemeteries. This free site can help you find the date of death and burial location. From there, you can search newspaper archives for the obituary.
Note: Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After 25 years, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15.
Cities in Jefferson County
Jefferson County contains Birmingham and several other cities. Residents of these cities use Jefferson County resources for obituary research.
Note: Hoover spans both Jefferson County and Shelby County. Check both county resources for Hoover obituaries.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties border Jefferson County.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Jefferson County, Alabama.