How to Get an Alabama Death Certificate (2026)

You can get an Alabama death certificate from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Center for Health Statistics by mail, in person at any county health department, or online through VitalChek. Eligible relatives and legal representatives may obtain a certified copy. The fee is $15 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Alabama?

You get an Alabama death certificate from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Center for Health Statistics, the state vital records office in Montgomery. Copies of any Alabama death record are also available through your local county health department.

There are three main ways to request a certified copy.

In Person at a County Health Department

You may visit any county health department in Alabama to request a certified copy of a death certificate. You do not have to use the county where the death occurred.

Most death certificates can be issued while you wait. Bring valid photo identification and the fee.

By Mail

You can mail an application to the Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5625. Include the completed application, a copy of your identification, and a check or money order payable to the Center for Health Statistics.

Mail requests are typically processed in about 7 to 10 days.

Online or by Phone Through VitalChek

Alabama uses VitalChek as its authorized online ordering vendor. You can order a certificate online or by calling VitalChek toll-free at 1-888-279-9888 using a major credit or debit card.

Additional service and shipping fees apply when you order this way.

Who Is Eligible to Request an Alabama Death Certificate?

For 25 years from the date of death, an Alabama death certificate is a restricted record. Only certain people may obtain a certified copy during that period.

ADPH publishes the following list of people who may obtain a restricted death certificate:

• The husband or wife of the person named on the certificate
• A parent, child, or sibling of the deceased
• A grandchild of the deceased, when demonstrating entitlement
• A legal representative of the family or the estate
• The informant listed on the death certificate

That list is narrower than it looks at first glance. A grandparent, cousin, niece, nephew, or unmarried partner is not on it. The underlying statute, Ala. Code Section 22-9A-21(b), authorizes the registrant, a member of the immediate family, a guardian, and their legal representatives, and it defines a legal representative to include an attorney, an attorney in fact, a physician, a funeral director, or another designated agent acting for the family.

Anyone outside those categories has one other route. Section 22-9A-21(b)(4) lets other people obtain a copy if they demonstrate that the record is needed to determine or protect a personal or property right. That is a showing you have to make to the State Registrar, not a box you check on the application.

After 25 years from the date of death, the record becomes public and anyone may request a copy. Because death records are restricted, you must provide valid identification to receive a certified copy.

Alabama Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

The Alabama death certificate fee is $15 for the first certified copy. This fee includes the search for the record, and if the record cannot be found you receive a Certificate of Failure to Find instead of a refund.

Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $6. Fees are not refundable.

If you need your record faster, ADPH offers an expedite option for an additional $15 fee. In-person county health department requests are usually filled while you wait, and mail requests take about 7 to 10 days.

Certified vs Informational Copy in Alabama

Alabama issues certified copies of death certificates. Unlike some states, Alabama does not sell a separate informational or noncertified copy product.

A certified copy is the official document bearing the state seal. It is the version you need for estate settlement, insurance claims, closing financial accounts, and most legal purposes.

Because Alabama only offers certified copies and access is restricted for 25 years, you must be an eligible requester and show identification to obtain one within that window.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

To get additional copies at the time of your original request, simply note the number of copies you want on your application. Each additional copy of the same record is $6 when ordered together.

If you need a replacement copy later, submit a new request through any of the methods above and pay the $15 first-copy fee again, since each new order includes a record search. You can order replacements by mail, in person at a county health department, or online through VitalChek.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about obtaining Alabama death certificates and is not legal advice. Fees, processing times, and eligibility rules can change. Always confirm current requirements with the ADPH Center for Health Statistics or your local county health department before submitting a request.

For broader rules on accessing Alabama death records, see Alabama Death Records, and compare other states on the Death Records by State hub.

Sources

This page is based on official guidance from the Alabama Department of Public Health Center for Health Statistics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is an Alabama death certificate?

An Alabama death certificate costs $15 for the first certified copy, which includes the record search. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $6. An optional expedite service is available for an extra $15.

How long does it take to get an Alabama death certificate?

In-person requests at a county health department are usually filled while you wait. Mail requests through the Center for Health Statistics typically take about 7 to 10 days, plus mailing time.

Who can get an Alabama death certificate?

For 25 years after the death, copies are restricted to the surviving spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandchildren who demonstrate entitlement, legal representatives of the family or estate, and the informant on the certificate. Grandparents and other relatives are not on that list; they would have to show the State Registrar that the record is needed to determine or protect a personal or property right under Ala. Code Section 22-9A-21(b)(4). After 25 years, anyone may request a copy.

Can I get an Alabama death certificate online?

Yes. Alabama uses VitalChek as its authorized online vendor. You can order online or by phone at 1-888-279-9888 with a major credit or debit card. Additional service and shipping fees apply.

What is the difference between a certified and informational copy in Alabama?

Alabama only issues certified copies, which carry the state seal and are accepted for estate, insurance, and legal purposes. The state does not sell a separate informational or noncertified copy.

How do I get extra copies of an Alabama death certificate?

Request the number of copies you need on your application. Additional copies of the same record ordered together are $6 each. For a replacement later, submit a new request and pay the $15 first-copy fee, since each order includes a search.