Alabama Vital Records

Alabama vital records are official records of events that happen in someone's life. They are birth, death, marriage, divorce, fetal death, and various other reports. The Center for Health Statistics in Alabama's Department of Public Health holds and keeps these vital records. Birth and death information is gathered, for example, from hospitals and funeral directors, and is then processed and stored in electronic and microfilm records.

When it comes to copies of these records, the law is very restrictive. Disclosure of vital records is regulated by the Alabama public records law in Alabama Code § 22-9A-21, and said records can only be certified and tendered in compliance with the law and accompanying state regulation. These records become unregulated public records after 125 years for birth records and 25 years for death records. The law does grant the right to offer certified copies in either digital or physical format.

Public Access to Alabama Vital Records

In Alabama, birth, death, marriage, or divorce records are considered vital records, which are typically limited in access and are not considered public. This means that the Alabama Open Records Law (Code of Alabama § 36-12-40 et seq.) does not apply to vital records. This is true pursuant to Alabama Code § 22-9A-21, which requires the State Registrar not to make vital records available to the public or to make copies of the vital records, unless authorized. This code answers the question: Are vital records public in Alabama? These records are limited to select individuals, namely, the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals who can provide evidence of "a personal or property right."

Administrative rules, Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-7-1-.22, provide that the requester must provide valid identification in order to obtain vital records. This is the case for birth records, which are less than 125 years old, and death records, which are less than 25 years old. However, records that have exceeded certain time limits can be considered as non-restricted public records. Such is the case for births after 125 years and deaths after 25 years, which is provided for in § 22-9A-21.

Alabama also keeps older records in certain archives. An example of this is the Alabama Department of Archives & History, which has microfilm of some early death records.

Types of Vital Records Available in Alabama

Alabama's Center for Health Statistics issues birth, death, and marriage records. It also issues divorce certificates, and registers fetal death (stillbirth) reports, induced termination of pregnancy, and acknowledgments of paternity, as a type of vital records in Alabama.

Alabama issues certified copies for legal use for every type of event, but there are restrictions on birth records less than 125 years old and death records less than 25 years old. Keepsake (decorative) birth certificates are not legal-use documents and are available for framing.

In addition, Alabama has been issuing marriage and divorce records certificates, and also registers fetal death (stillbirth) reports, induced termination of pregnancy, and acknowledgments of paternity.

Alabama Birth Records

In Alabama, the Health Statistics Center of the Alabama Department of Public Health is responsible for the safekeeping of all birth certificates and assists individuals seeking to obtain a birth certificate in Alabama. Existing birth documents contain the child's full name, date and county of birth, sex, and the name of the child's parents (the mother's maiden name is also included), and any medical and hospital details if relevant.

Alabama Law (Code § 22-9A-7) requires registrars to file an Alabama birth certificate with the State Registrar's Office within five (5) days of birth. For delayed registrations, there is a separate statute with its own documentary requirements (§ 22-9A-9).

To obtain a certified birth certificate, interested parties may apply via mail to the:

Or apply in person at any county health department with the ViSION system.

Alabama Death Records

In Alabama, the Center for Health Statistics, a part of the Alabama Department of Public Health, maintains the state's death records through death certificates. They are also the official resource to find death records in Alabama.

Alabama death certificates contain the following information: the decedent's legal name, death information (date and location), age, usual residence, date of birth, and the medical cause of death (this is the medical certification). A funeral director completes and submits the necessary documentation. At the same time, a physician, coroner, or medical examiner must certify the cause of death within two days of the death.

In Alabama, funeral homes and hospitals can submit certificates electronically through the state's Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS). Death certificates are restricted for the first 25 years after they are filed for public access, during which time only certain individuals (e.g., immediate family members or legal representatives) can request them. After 25 years, records are available to the public.

Requests for copies of death certificates may be made using the request form:

By mail at:

In person at health departments in each Alabama county.

Note that Alabama Code § 22-9A-14 mandates that death certificates be filed within 5 days of the death.

Alabama Marriage Records

In Alabama, legal documents confirming a marriage are Alabama marriage certificates. The Probate Court of the county records the marriage certificate form after it has been signed, completed, and notarized, and it must be filed within a month. Upon recording, the court sends the original to the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, which has state-wide records through the ViSION system.

In stark contrast to some other marriage records, marriage certificates are fully uncensored public documents. With sufficient identifying details and the proper payment of a fee (15 dollars for a search and the first copy, and 6 dollars for any other copy), anyone can obtain it.

To request Alabama marriage records, mail requests to the Center for Health Statistics. Alternatively, requestors can visit any of Alabama's county health departments to request one in person. Requests regarding a marriage that took place before August 1936 must be submitted to the county probate court for the county where the marriage license was issued initially, as the state does not hold those documents.

Alabama Divorce Records

In the state of Alabama, divorce records consist of two primary documents: a divorce certificate and a divorce decree. The divorce certificate contains the names of the divorced individuals, the date of the divorce, and the county in which it was finalized. The Alabama divorce decree, issued by the circuit court, contains provisions for the division of property, child custody, child support, and other details in a legal document.

Divorce certificates in Alabama for divorces granted from the year 1950 to the present are on record at the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics. Divorces granted before 1950 are the responsibility of the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was finalized.

Since the decrees are legal documents, they are in the possession of the county circuit clerk. Most divorce records are public under Alabama's open records law, and individuals have the right to seal certain documents, such as financial disclosures and other child-related records.

How to Order Vital Records in Alabama

Here is how to order Alabama vital records, such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, in Alabama:

• By Mail: Requesters can download and fill out the official application form from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Include the required fee: $15 for the search and the first certified copy, and $6 for each additional copy. Mail the application to the Center for Health Statistics in Montgomery.
• In Person: Requesters can visit any County health department in Alabama to request vital records. Most certificates can be issued the same day, often within 30 minutes. Persons requesting restricted records, such as recent birth or death certificates, must show valid identification. The main Vital Records office in Montgomery also processes corrections, amendments, and delayed filings by appointment.
• By Phone or Online: The state does not handle online orders directly. Instead, Alabama uses a third-party service for phone and online orders with credit cards. Requesters can complete phone orders through that service, and fees may vary.

Who Can Request Alabama Vital Records?

In Alabama, birth certificates that are less than 125 years old and death certificates that are less than 25 years old are restricted. Who can access vital records in Alabama? Alabama vital records eligibility is open only to certain individuals, such as the registrant, close family, or people with a legal interest, who can obtain them.

Marriage and divorce records in Alabama are generally public, but certified copies may require identification or proof of relationship, depending on the request. Eligible requesters usually include immediate family members, legal representatives, or individuals with a court order. Understanding eligibility can help ensure that requesters submit the correct documents and make requests accurately to the right state office.

Record Type	Eligible Requestors	Required Documents	Official Source Link
Birth Certificate	Registrant (18+), Parents or legal guardians, Immediate family (spouse, child, sibling, grandparent), Legal representatives, Individuals with a court order	Valid photo ID, Proof of relationship (if not the registrant), Court documents if applicable	Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) - Vital Records P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103
Death Certificate	Immediate family members, Legal representatives, Individuals with documented legal interest. Note: The Cause of death is restricted and may require proof of eligibility	Valid ID, Proof of legal interest or relationship	Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) - Vital Records P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103
Marriage Record	Records are public in Alabama (anyone may request), Certified copies may require ID, depending on the county.	Valid ID (for certified copies)	Alabama Center for Health Statistics - Marriage Records 201 Monroe St., Montgomery, AL 36104
Divorce Record	Records are public (anyone may request), Certified copies are generally available to parties named or legal representatives	Valid photo ID, Court documents if requesting restricted details	Alabama Center for Health Statistics - Divorce Records 201 Monroe St., Montgomery, AL 36104

Processing Times for Alabama Vital Records Requests

Here's an overview of the factors affecting Alabama vital records processing times for vital records requests in the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), with a summary table of typical influences and considerations. The time it takes to obtain a vital record from Alabama depends on the method of request (in-person, by mail, or online/phone), the type of record (birth, death, marriage, or divorce), and whether you require any additional verification or a search. In-person requests through a county health department are often completed while you wait. Mail requests usually take longer due to postal delivery and internal processing. If records are restricted, such as recent birth or death records, verifying eligibility or identity can take longer.

According to ADPH, most records requested through a county health department can be issued within 30 minutes. Mail requests typically take 7 to 10 business days.

Record Type	Factors That Influence Processing Time	Considerations
Birth Certificate	Request method (in-person vs mail vs online) Eligibility verification (restricted records) Volume of requests	In-person at county health departments - often under 30 minutes Mail requests - ~7-10 days Restricted access may slow processing
Death Certificate	Whether cause-of-death info is included	In-person or county-level retrieval can be fast Detailed certificates or restricted records may need extra review
Marriage Certificate	Whether the record is on file statewide	County clerks' workload affects wait times Certified copies may take longer than informational ones
Divorce Certificate	County clerks' workload affects wait times Certified copies may take longer than informational ones	Records kept by courts may require case searches Delivery depends on the court and county backlog

Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in Alabama

Alabama vital records fees can vary based on the type of record and service requested. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), through its Center for Health Statistics, charges a base fee for the first certified copy of a vital record (birth, death, marriage, or divorce). For most certificates, the search and first certified copy cost $15.00. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $6.00.

Certain special services, such as issuing an authenticated copy, amended records, delayed certificates, or new birth certificates after adoption, have different fee amounts. For example, an authenticated Alabama birth certificate costs $25.00. Amendments or delayed certificates cost $20.00.

Fees can change, and extra charges may apply for expedited service, special delivery, or additional processing. If needed, you can request the latest fee schedule directly from the Alabama Department of Public Health.

How to Search Vital Records Online in Alabama

To search vital records online in Alabama, requesters can take advantage of several official government and archival resources that offer access to historical or index-only information. The Alabama Department of Public Health does not provide complete vital records online. It offers guidance on how to order certified copies instead. For older records, the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) maintains searchable databases for historical birth, death, and marriage indexes, as well as Alabama genealogy records.

These indexes are especially valuable for records that are 25 to 75 years old, depending on the type of record. While these databases are helpful for genealogy research, they do not provide certified documents. Some county probate courts also post limited marriage record indexes online. For more recent or restricted records, individuals need to request them directly from state or county offices. Alabama does not offer full online access to modern vital records.