Access Monroe County Obituaries

Monroe County obituary records are available through The Monroe Journal, local funeral homes, and the probate court in Monroeville. The county is famous as the home of author Harper Lee. A courthouse fire destroyed all records prior to 1833, but the probate court has marriage, probate, and land records from 1832 onward. FamilySearch has Record of Orders from 1816-1821 and 1833-1933, plus estate case files from 1896-1958. Legacy.com has a searchable Monroeville obituary section for recent death notices. The Monroe County Heritage Museum can help with local history research.

Monroe County Probate Court

The Monroe County Probate Court handles estate matters, wills, and marriage records. When you cannot find an obituary, probate records often list family members and heirs.

Note that a courthouse fire destroyed all records prior to 1833. The Probate Judge has marriage, probate, and land records from 1832.

The Monroe Journal

The Monroe Journal is the local newspaper serving Monroe County. Based in Monroeville, it publishes obituaries for residents throughout the county.

For current obituaries, search Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/monroeville.

Monroe County Heritage Museum

The Monroe County Heritage Museum is located in the old courthouse that inspired the courthouse in "To Kill a Mockingbird." The museum can help with local history and genealogy research.

Historical Probate Records

FamilySearch has several collections for Monroe County that can help with obituary research:

• Monroe County Probate Record 1840-1930
• Record of Orders 1816-1821 and 1833-1933
• Estate Case Files 1896-1958
• Alabama Probate Records 1809-1985

The USGenWeb Archives Project also has transcribed Monroe County records.

Monroe County Funeral Homes

Contact funeral homes in the Monroeville area for obituary archives. Many funeral homes keep records going back decades and can help you find death notices even if they are not posted online. Call ahead to ask about their records.

Monroeville has funeral homes that serve the entire county. If you do not know which funeral home handled services, start by calling funeral homes in Monroeville.

How to Search Monroe County Obituaries

For recent obituaries, start with Legacy.com and search for Monroe County or Monroeville, Alabama. Most obituaries from the past few years will appear in the results. You can also check The Monroe Journal for current death notices.

For older obituaries, try these resources:

• FamilySearch - Monroe County Probate Record 1840-1930
• FamilySearch - Estate Case Files 1896-1958
• FamilySearch - Record of Orders 1816-1821, 1833-1933
• USGenWeb Archives Project - Monroe County
• Find a Grave - burial records for county cemeteries
• Monroe County Heritage Museum
• Newspapers.com - historical newspapers (subscription)
• GenealogyBank - historical newspapers (subscription)

Note that a courthouse fire destroyed all records prior to 1833. The probate court has marriage, probate, and land records from 1832, but earlier records are lost. FamilySearch has Record of Orders from 1816-1821 that were preserved elsewhere.

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 shows date and cause of death along with burial information.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County includes Monroeville, Excel, Frisco City, Beatrice, Peterman, and several smaller communities. All residents use Monroe County resources for obituary research.

Monroeville is the county seat and is known as the "Literary Capital of Alabama" due to its connection to Harper Lee and Truman Capote. The old courthouse that inspired the courthouse in "To Kill a Mockingbird" now houses the Monroe County Heritage Museum.

The Heritage Museum can help with local history and genealogy research. They may have information about families and obituaries not available elsewhere. Staff there know the local families well and can often help identify which funeral home handled services or where someone might be buried. Their archives include newspaper clippings and family records that have been donated over the years.

Nearby Counties

Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties border Monroe County.

Start Your Search

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