Death certificates in Alabama
In Alabama, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $15 from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $6. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Alabama
| Office | Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $6 The $15 search fee includes one copy. Expedited service costs $15 more. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee. |
| Who can order | For deaths in the last 25 years, only the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandchild (with proof), the informant listed on the certificate, or a legal representative of the family or estate may order. Records older than 25 years are open to anyone. |
| ID you need | You must show ID to get a restricted death certificate. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. At any county health department in Alabama. |
| How long it takes | Most death certificates can be issued while you wait at a county health department. The office does not state a time for mail orders. |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in Alabama?
- $15 for the first certified copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, and $6 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The $15 search fee includes one copy. Expedited service costs $15 more. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee.
- Who can order a death certificate in Alabama?
- For deaths in the last 25 years, only the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandchild (with proof), the informant listed on the certificate, or a legal representative of the family or estate may order. Records older than 25 years are open to anyone.
- How do I order a death certificate in Alabama?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. You must show ID to get a restricted death certificate.