Find Limestone County Obituaries
Limestone County obituary records are available through the Limestone County Archives, Athens News Courier, and local funeral homes. The county has an exceptional "In Memory" database with nearly 60,000 death records compiled from newspaper obituaries, tombstone inscriptions, and funeral programs. This database covers records from the 1800s to current daily updates. Athens serves as the county seat. The Athens-Limestone County Public Library has obituaries from the Athens News Courier dating from 1994 to present. For obituaries before 1994, contact the Limestone County Archives or check Find a Grave.
Limestone County Quick Facts
Limestone County Probate Court
The Limestone 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 marriage records from after 1900, probate records from after 1900, land records from after 1900, court records from after 1900, and divorce records from after 1947. For records before 1900, check the Limestone County Archives.
| Address | 100 S Clinton St, #D, Clinton St Courthouse Annex, 2nd Floor, Athens, AL 35611 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 233-6427 |
| Hours | 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST |
| Circuit Court | limestone.alacourt.gov |
Limestone County Archives
The Limestone County Archives is one of the best obituary resources in Alabama. Their "In Memory" database contains nearly 60,000 Limestone County death records.
The database compiles information from:
- Newspaper obituaries
- Tombstone inscriptions
- Funeral programs
Records span from the 1800s to current daily-updated records. The searchable database is available at limestonearchives.com.
| Address | 102 W. Washington St., Athens, AL 35611 |
|---|---|
| Website | limestonecounty-al.gov/Departments/Archives |
| Searchable Database | limestonearchives.com |
The archives also has records before 1900 including deeds, marriages, tax blanks, voter registration, wills, court cases, and plat books.
Athens-Limestone County Public Library
The Athens-Limestone County Public Library has genealogy resources and obituary access. The Shelby Southard History Room contains local history materials.
| Address | 603 S Jefferson St, Athens, AL 35611 |
|---|---|
| Website | alcpl.org/programs-and-services/genealogy |
| Obituary Coverage | Athens News Courier (1994-present) |
For obituaries before 1994, contact the Limestone County Archives or search findagrave.com.
Athens News Courier
The Athens News Courier is the main newspaper serving Limestone County. It publishes obituaries for residents throughout the county. Current obituaries appear on Legacy.com. The paper has been serving the Athens area for many years.
Historical newspaper resources include:
- Newspapers.com - Limestone Enterprise 1891
- GenealogyBank - News-Courier (02/01/2006-current)
- Ancestry - The Alabama Courier 1931-1968
The Athens-Limestone County Public Library may have access to additional newspaper databases. Ask the librarians about resources for historical obituary research. They can often help you find newspapers from specific time periods.
Limestone County Historical Society
The Limestone County Historical Society preserves local history and can assist with genealogy research.
| Website | limestonecountyhistoricalsociety.org |
|---|
How to Search Limestone County Obituaries
Start with the Limestone County Archives "In Memory" database at limestonearchives.com. This free database has nearly 60,000 death records. It is one of the best obituary resources in Alabama and is updated daily.
For additional resources, try:
- Athens-Limestone County Public Library - obituaries from 1994
- Legacy.com - Athens section
- FamilySearch - Probate Records 1828-1943
- FamilySearch - Indexes 1825-1925
- FamilySearch - Wills 1826-1831
- FamilySearch - Alabama Estate Files 1830-1976
- Ancestry - Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999
- Find a Grave - burial records for county cemeteries
The "In Memory" database pulls information from newspaper obituaries, tombstone inscriptions, and funeral programs. This means even if you cannot find a newspaper obituary, you may find death information from tombstones or funeral records.
Limestone County has very old records because of good preservation. The probate court has records before 1900 including deeds, marriages, voter registration, wills, and court cases. These older records are kept at the archives.
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 list the cause of death, date, and burial location.
Cities in Limestone County
Limestone County includes Athens, Ardmore, Elkmont, Mooresville, and several smaller communities. Residents of these cities use Limestone County resources for obituary research.
Athens is the county seat and has the main archival resources. The Limestone County Archives is a must-visit for serious genealogy research. The archives building is easy to find in downtown Athens.
Ardmore straddles the Alabama-Tennessee state line. If you are researching someone from Ardmore, also check Tennessee records in case they were recorded there instead of in Alabama.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties border Limestone County.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Limestone County, Alabama.