Alabama Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Researching in Vital Records. Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.......

Most early birth records contain very little biographical information. Typical early New England town and church records, for example, give little information beyond the name of the child, date and place of birth, and parents’ names. Some localities listed only the name of the father.

While early birth records can be discouragingly lacking in information, by the mid-nineteenth century birth records in the United States began to include more information. Even though births were not widely recorded during the early years of America’s existence, the records that do exist may be the only source of a birth date for an individual and should always be consulted.

Delayed births are also important vital registrations that you should consider for obtaining biographical information. When Social Security benefits were instituted in 1937, individuals claiming benefits had to document their birth even if the state of their birth did not require registration when they were born. Individuals who were not registered with state or county agencies at the time of their birth often applied for a delayed birth registration. Obtaining passports, insurance, and other benefits also required proof of age.

Search Alabama Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Applications were accompanied with full name, address, and date and place of birth; father’s name, race, and place of birth; and evidence to support the facts presented. The evidence could be in the form of a baptismal certificate, Bible record, school record, affidavit from the attending physician or midwife, application for an insurance policy, birth certificate of a child, or an affidavit from a person having definite knowledge of the facts. Delayed birth records are usually filed and indexed separately from regular birth registrations, and it may be necessary to request a separate search for them.

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How to Order Alabama Birth, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificates

There were no Alabama birth "certificates" before 1908. Most counties just registered births in ledgers. Some county court houses may have kept some records, but the best source is the Department of Archives and History, Most of their information comes from census records.

Alabama State Vital Records, Center for Health Statistics Office is located at Suite 1150, 201 Monroe Street, Montgomery, AL 36104. The phone number is 334) 206-5418; Fax: (334) 262-9563. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing birth certificates in 1908 for persons born in Alabama. Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the birth certificate: Full name of person at birth, Date of birth, Sex, County (or city) of birth, Hospital of birth - if not in a hospital state "home", Full maiden name of mother, Full name of father, Your relationship to the person whose certificate you are requesting
  • Death Certificates: The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing death certificates in 1908 for persons who died in Alabama. Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the death certificate: Full legal name of deceased, Date of death, County (or city) of death, Sex, Social Security number, Date of birth or age at death, Race, Name of spouse, Names of parents, Your relationship to the person whose certificate you are requesting. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon
  • Marriage Certificates: The Alabama Center for Health Statistics began filing marriage certificates in 1936 for marriages that occurred in Alabama. (Information for marriages prior to 1936 must be obtained from the probate office in the county where the marriage license was issued.) Please provide as much of the following information as possible for us to locate the marriage certificate: Full name of husband, Full maiden name of wife, Date of marriage, County where marriage license was issued
  • Ordering Vital Records Online- You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Ordering Vital Records by Mail -The fee to search for a birth, Marriage or Death certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $4.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: Alabama Vital Records, P. O. Box 5625, Montgomery, Al 36103-5625. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates or Death Certificates.

Links For Birth Records

 

Links For Marriage Records

 

Links For Death Records

 

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