How to Get a Death Certificate in Alabama

Alabama death certificates are restricted for 25 years after the death. After that, they are public and anyone can order a copy by paying the fee.

For deaths less than 25 years ago, these people can order:

• Mother or father of the person who died
• Husband or wife
• Son or daughter (the state rule says adult son or daughter)
• Sister or brother (the state rule says adult brother or sister)
• A grandchild, when showing proof of a right to the record
• The informant listed on the death certificate
• The executor or administrator of the estate
• A legal representative of the family or estate, such as an attorney, attorney in fact, physician, funeral director, or other designated agent
• Someone an eligible person has authorized in writing to get the copy for them
• Others who show the copy is needed to determine or protect their personal or property rights

If you are not immediate family, the application asks you to explain why you need the record, and the state may ask for documents showing your right to it. The state does not publish a specific document list for executors, so contact the Center for Health Statistics at (334) 206-5418 to confirm what to bring.

Alabama keeps all death records in one statewide system, and any county health department can print a certified copy of any Alabama death certificate, no matter which county the death happened in. Every Alabama county has a county health department.

County health departments (in person)

This is usually the fastest option. Most death certificates can be issued while you wait. Find your nearest office on the ADPH Locations page. Hours and accepted payment methods vary by office, and not every branch office necessarily issues vital records, so call ahead.

The state office in Montgomery no longer takes walk-in requests for regular certified copies. In Montgomery, the state points people to the Montgomery County Health Department, 3060 Mobile Hwy., Montgomery, AL 36108 (Vital Records: 334-293-6555), or any other county health department.

State Center for Health Statistics (by mail)

Fill out the Application for a Birth, Death, Marriage, or Divorce Certificate (ADPH-HS14) and mail it with a copy of your ID and payment to:

Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625

Pay by check or money order payable to Center for Health Statistics. Do not send cash. Mail orders take about 7 to 10 days, plus mail time. An optional $15 expedite fee is available. The state does not explain on its website how to request expedited service by mail, so call (334) 206-5418 first.

Phone hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central, Monday to Friday, excluding state holidays.

Online or by phone (VitalChek)

The Center does not take online orders directly. It links to VitalChek, an independent company, at vitalchek.com, or by phone any time at 1-888-279-9888. VitalChek accepts major credit and debit cards. Its Alabama page lists $30 for the first death certificate copy and $6 for each additional copy, and the state says there are additional fees for the service and for UPS shipping. VitalChek's service fee, shipping cost, and turnaround are shown only at checkout.

• A completed application (ADPH-HS14)
• One current photo ID from the state's primary list, such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. It can be expired no more than 60 days
• If you do not have a primary photo ID, the state accepts two different documents from its secondary list instead, such as a utility bill no more than 6 months old and a vehicle registration. See the full list on the ID requirements page
• If you send someone else to pick up the certificate, both you and that person must show acceptable ID
• Payment: $15 for the search and first copy, $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time
• Proof of your right to the record if you are not immediate family (for example, an executor or grandchild). Call (334) 206-5418 to confirm what is needed

Fees are not refundable. If no record is found, the $15 buys a "Certificate of Failure to Find" instead. By signing the application you certify that you have a legal right to the record. Applying falsely can lead to up to three months in county jail or a fine of up to $500.

Alabama issues certified copies. It does not offer a separate "informational" copy for families.

For deaths from 1991 on, you can choose a certified copy with or without the cause of death. The application asks how many of each you want, so you can order some of each at once. Before ordering, ask each bank, insurer, or agency which version it accepts.

For records used in other countries, the state offers Apostille copies. These cannot be ordered through VitalChek. Call the Center at (334) 206-5418 for details.

By law, the funeral director (or person acting as one) who first takes custody of the body files the death certificate. The funeral director gets the personal details from the next of kin or another informant, and the doctor, medical examiner, or coroner completes the medical part.

The certificate must be filed with the state within five days of the death. If the cause of death is not yet known, for example while waiting on an autopsy, the certifier can mark it "PENDING" and send the cause later.

The state does not publish how many days after a death a certified copy can usually be ordered. Once the certificate is registered, any county health department can print it. The funeral home can often tell you when it has been filed. Funeral directors are also among the legal representatives who can order copies for the family.

Many banks, insurers, and government agencies want their own certified copy, and some keep it. In Alabama, extra copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost only $6 each, compared with $15 for a new order later, so ordering a few extra up front can save money. See our guide on how many copies to plan your count.

Corrections are handled only by the state Center for Health Statistics, not by county health departments.

Personal details (such as names, dates of birth, or marital status): the informant, an immediate family member, the executor or administrator, the funeral home that filed the certificate, or a legal representative can apply. Use the application in the state's amendment packet and mail it with valid ID, supporting documents, and the $20 amendment fee, which includes one certified copy. Some changes need a court order.

Funeral home entry errors can be corrected for up to one year after the certificate was filed.

Cause of death and other medical details: only the certifier who signed (physician, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, coroner, or medical examiner) can change these. There is no fee for the certifier.

The original entry is not erased. The correction is attached as an affidavit, and the certificate is generally marked "Amended." Minor obvious errors the State Registrar fixes within one year do not need to be marked.

In-person amendment requests are by appointment only at the RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1150, Montgomery. For questions, call the Death Amendment Clerk at (334) 206-2641, or call (334) 206-2637 for amendment questions or to book an appointment.

The official ways to get an Alabama death certificate are:

• Any Alabama county health department, in person
• The Center for Health Statistics, by mail, using the state application
• VitalChek, the online and phone vendor linked from the Alabama Vital Records website

Other websites may look official but add their own charges on top of the state fee to submit the same application for you. To be safe, start from the Alabama Department of Public Health website and follow its links.