Washington County Obituary Lookup
Washington County obituary records are available through the Washington County News and local funeral homes in the Chatom area. The Probate Court maintains some of the oldest records in Alabama, with land records from 1799 and marriage records from 1826. FamilySearch has digitized Washington County probate records from 1800-1943. Probate Judge Nick Williams oversees the court at 45 Court St in Chatom. Legacy.com aggregates current obituaries. This rural county requires checking multiple sources for complete obituary research.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Probate Court
The Washington County Probate Court has some of the oldest records in Alabama. Washington County was created in 1800, making it one of the original Alabama counties. Land records date back to 1799, before Alabama was even a state.
Probate Judge Nick Williams oversees the court. When obituaries cannot be found, probate records may provide names of family members and heirs.
| Address | 45 Court St, Chatom, AL 36518 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 549, Chatom, AL 36518 |
| Phone | (251) 847-2201 |
| Probate Judge | Nick Williams |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | washprobate.com |
The Probate Judge maintains several types of historical records:
- Land records from 1799
- Marriage records from 1826
- Probate records from 1825
- Military discharge records from 1919
- Birth and death records from 1920
Under Alabama Code Title 12, Chapter 13, probate courts have jurisdiction over estate matters statewide.
Washington County Newspapers
The Washington County News is the local newspaper serving the county. It publishes obituaries for residents in the Chatom area and surrounding communities.
Because Washington County is rural, historical newspapers may not be fully digitized. The county's location in southwest Alabama means some residents may have had obituaries published in Mobile area newspapers as well.
For historical obituary research:
- Washington County News back issues
- FamilySearch Washington County Probate Records (1800-1943)
- Mobile area newspaper archives
- USGenWeb Archives Project
Washington County Records Research
Researching Washington County obituaries requires patience due to the rural nature of the county. The good news is that FamilySearch has digitized probate records going back to 1800.
The Washington County Public Library can assist with local research. Rural libraries often have materials not available online and staff who know local history.
Washington County Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in the Chatom area serve Washington County families. Contact them directly for obituary information. Many maintain records even if they do not post everything online.
Because Washington County is rural, some families use funeral homes in Mobile or other larger cities for services. If local searches are unsuccessful, check Mobile County funeral homes as well.
A phone call to a funeral home often gets results faster than internet searches. Funeral homes keep records of services and can help locate obituary information.
How to Search Washington County Obituaries
Start with Legacy.com for recent obituaries. Search by name and filter by Alabama to find death notices from Washington County.
FamilySearch has free digitized records for Washington County:
- Washington County Probate Records (1800-1943)
- Alabama Probate Records collection (1809-1985)
The 1800-1943 date range makes this one of the more comprehensive FamilySearch collections for any Alabama county. These records can help when newspaper obituaries are unavailable.
The USGenWeb Archives Project has contributed materials for Washington County. Volunteers have transcribed records over the years, providing free resources for research.
Find a Grave lists burial records for Washington County cemeteries. Use burial information to narrow newspaper searches to specific time periods.
Consider checking Mobile area resources as well. Washington County's proximity to Mobile means some obituaries may have appeared in Mobile newspapers.
Death certificates from Alabama are restricted for 25 years under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21. The Alabama Department of Public Health charges $15 for the first copy.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several other Alabama counties and Mississippi. Obituaries may have appeared in newspapers from neighboring areas.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Washington County, Alabama.