St. Clair County Obituary Search

St. Clair County obituary records are available through local newspapers, funeral homes, and the Probate Court offices in Ashville and Pell City. This county is unique in Alabama because it has two county seats and two courthouses that record information. The St. Clair Times and The Daily Home publish local obituaries. FamilySearch has digitized probate records from Ashville covering 1850-1952 and Pell City records from 1902-1916. Records at the courthouse date back to 1800, among the oldest in the state.

St. Clair County Probate Court

St. Clair County has two probate divisions. The Ashville Division serves the Northern Judicial District, while the Pell City Division serves the Southern Judicial District. You may need to check both offices depending on where the deceased lived.

This dual courthouse setup is important to understand. Records may be in one location or the other depending on geography. When in doubt, call both offices.

Ashville Division (Northern District)

Pell City Division (Southern District)

The Probate Judge has marriage, probate, and land records from 1800. These are among the oldest records in Alabama. The Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records as well.

St. Clair County Newspapers

Two newspapers serve St. Clair County and publish obituaries:

• St. Clair Times - local coverage
• The Daily Home (Talladega) - regional coverage including St. Clair

Because St. Clair County is in the Birmingham metro area, obituaries may also appear in The Birmingham News. Check multiple papers for complete coverage.

For historical obituary research, FamilySearch has digitized probate records:

• Probate Records Ashville (1850-1952)
• Probate Records Pell City (1902-1916)
• Social Security Death Index (1935-2014)

St. Clair County Records Research

The dual courthouse system means you may need to search both Ashville and Pell City for complete records. Records were kept separately based on which part of the county the person lived in.

The St. Clair County Public Library can help with local research. Staff understand the county's unique record-keeping system and can point you to the right courthouse.

St. Clair County Funeral Homes

Funeral homes in both Ashville and Pell City serve St. Clair County residents. Contact funeral homes directly for obituary records. Many maintain archives going back years.

The county spans from rural areas to Birmingham suburbs. Some families use funeral homes in Birmingham for services. If you cannot find records locally, check Jefferson County funeral homes.

Funeral homes often have records even if they do not post everything online. A phone call can get you information faster than internet searches.

How to Search St. Clair County Obituaries

Start with Legacy.com for recent obituaries. Search by name and filter by St. Clair County, Pell City, or Ashville to find area obituaries.

FamilySearch has free digitized records for St. Clair County:

• Probate Records Ashville (1850-1952)
• Probate Records Pell City (1902-1916)
• Social Security Death Index (1935-2014)

The Social Security Death Index is particularly useful for finding death dates when obituaries are unavailable. Once you have a death date, you can search newspapers from that time.

Find a Grave lists burial records for St. Clair County cemeteries. Use this to find burial dates and locations, then search newspapers from that period.

Remember to check both courthouse divisions. Records may be in Ashville or Pell City depending on where the deceased lived. If unsure, call both offices.

Death certificates are available from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15. Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death records become public 25 years after the date of death.

Nearby Counties

St. Clair County borders several other Alabama counties. Obituaries may have appeared in newspapers from neighboring areas.

Start Your Search

Use the search tool below to find obituary records in St. Clair County, Alabama.