Find Obituaries in Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County obituary records are available through the Times Daily newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. The county has no record loss due to courthouse fires, which is good news for genealogy research. Florence serves as the county seat and is home to most obituary resources. The Natchez Trace Genealogical Society has compiled Florence Herald obituaries from 1952 to 1975. Current obituaries appear in the Times Daily and on funeral home websites. The probate court has marriage and estate records dating back to the county's earliest days.
Lauderdale County Quick Facts
Lauderdale County Probate Court
The Lauderdale County Probate Court handles estate matters, wills, and marriage records. When you cannot find an obituary, probate records often list family members and heirs. The court has records going back to the county's founding.
Records are available online through the ING Probate system. Copies cost $1.00 per page, and certification is $3.00 per record.
| Address | Lauderdale County Court House, Florence, AL 35631 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 1059, Florence, AL 35631 |
| Phone | (256) 760-5800 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Online Records | ingprobate.com/lauderdale_probate |
The circuit court website at lauderdale.alacourt.gov has information about court records and access.
Times Daily Newspaper
The Times Daily is the main newspaper serving Lauderdale County. Based in Florence, it publishes obituaries for the entire region. Current obituaries are available on their website.
| Address | 219 W Tennessee St, Florence, AL 35630 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 766-3434 |
| Obituaries | (256) 340-2384 |
| Website | timesdaily.com/obituaries |
Legacy.com also has Times Daily obituaries at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/florence. The Lauderdale GenWeb has additional obituary resources at lauderdalealgenweb.com/obituaries.
Lauderdale County Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County include:
- Greenview Memorial Chapel - Florence - greenviewmemorial.com
- Morrison Funeral Home - Tuscumbia, Cherokee, and Florence - morrisonfuneralhomes.com
- Saints Funeral Home - 330 W. Tennessee Street, Florence - Phone: (256) 275-7566 - saintsfuneralhome.com
- Elkins Funeral Home - Florence (historical)
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library
The Florence-Lauderdale Public Library has genealogy resources in the Shelby Southard History Room. This is a good place to search for older obituaries and family history information. The staff can help you get started with your research.
| Address | 350 N Wood Ave, Florence, AL 35630 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 764-6564 |
| Special Collection | Shelby Southard History Room |
The Natchez Trace Genealogical Society has compiled Florence Herald obituaries from 1952 to 1975. The library may have access to this collection. Ask the genealogy staff about these records when you visit.
The library also provides access to subscription databases like Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com. These databases have historical newspapers and obituary indexes that you can search for free at the library. Bring your library card to use these resources.
Historical Obituary Records
FamilySearch has several collections for Lauderdale County that can help with obituary research:
- Alabama Probate Records 1809-1985
- Alabama Estate Files 1830-1976
- Guardians and Administrators Bonds Vol. 2 (1905-1958)
- Guardians and Administrators Bonds Vol. A (1850-1855)
The library also has indexes for local newspapers:
- Florence Times Index (July 4, 1890 - December 31, 1930)
- Times Daily Death Index (January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1998)
These indexes can save you hours of searching through old newspapers. Once you find a listing in the index, you can request a copy of the actual obituary from the library or search the newspaper archive directly.
Lauderdale County has good records because the courthouse never had a fire. This means records go back to the county's earliest days. The probate court has marriage and estate records from the founding of the county.
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. The certificate will show the date and cause of death along with the place of burial.
Cities in Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County includes Florence, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, Killen, and several smaller communities. All residents use Lauderdale County resources for obituary research. Together, Florence, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals form the Shoals area.
Florence is the largest city and has most of the obituary resources. The Times Daily covers all cities in the county. Funeral homes in Florence often handle services for residents from across the county, so start your search there.
If you know someone lived in a specific city, check funeral homes in that city first. Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals each have funeral homes that post obituaries online.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties border Lauderdale County.
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