How to get an Alabama death certificate

In Alabama, order a certified death certificate from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics.¹ County health departments issue state records through the ViSION system.¹ The first copy costs $15² and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $6². You can order online, by mail, at a local office or by phone. Anyone may order a certified copy. The fastest published option is at a local office: same day².

Last checked November 5, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What an Alabama death certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order an Alabama death certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.	$15² first, $6² each extra copy	–	Card¹
By mail	$15² first, $6² each extra copy	7 to 10 days¹	Check and money order²
At a local office	$15² first, $6² each extra copy	Same day²	–
By phone	$15² first, $6² each extra copy	–	Card³

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office and in person.¹³

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor: VitalChek Network, Inc.¹
Fees: First copy $15²
Each additional copy in the same order $6²
Payment: Card¹

Good to know

ADPH calls VitalChek an independent company and says the service costs extra.¹
Apostille and Exemplified copies cannot be ordered online.⁴

Go to the ordering site²

By mail

Run by: Alabama Center for Health Statistics²
Fees: First copy $15²
Each additional copy in the same order $6²
Processing time: 7 to 10 days¹
Expedited service: $15. Available²
Payment: Check and money order²
Make payable to: Center for Health Statistics²
Mail to: Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Vital Records, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
³

Good to know

Use the form only for events in Alabama; do not request two different types of certificates on the same form.⁵

Open the application or mail instructions⁵

At a local office

Run by: Alabama county health departments¹
Fees: First copy $15²⁶
Each additional copy in the same order $6²
Processing time: Same day²
Hours: Jefferson County example: Monday-Friday 7:45am-4:15pm, Guy M. Tate Building only⁶

Good to know

Regular copies are no longer issued in person at the state office in Montgomery; use a county health department.³
Apostille and Exemplified copies are not available at county health departments.⁴

Find a local office⁷

By phone

Run by: VitalChek Network, Inc.³
Fees: First copy $15²
Each additional copy in the same order $6²
Payment: Card³
Hours: Any time¹
Phone: 888-279-9888¹

What an Alabama death certificate costs

First certified copy: $15²
Each additional copy, same order: $6²
Expedite fee: $15²
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee⁸
Fees in effect since: Fee section last amended by Act 2009-569⁹

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Certified copy²	Treated by statute as the same as the original for all purposes¹⁰	$15²
Certificate of Failure to Find²	–	$15²

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time
By mail	7 to 10 days¹
At a local office	Same day²

Who can order an Alabama death certificate

Anyone may order a certified copy.²

The office also names these requesters and conditions. Each line gives the official wording.

A parent named on the record²
Spouse²
Child²
Brother or sister²
Grandchild²
Attorney or legal representative²
Informant listed on death certificate as providing information²
Executor or estate administrator: The executor or administrator of the decedent's estate may obtain certified copies of the decedent's death certificate.⁸
Funeral director: The term “legal representative” shall include an attorney at law, attorney in fact, physician, funeral director, or other designated agent acting on behalf and for the benefit of the registrant or his or her family.¹¹
Government agency: Representatives of government agencies may obtain certified copies of any vital record that is needed for the official use of their respective agencies.⁸
May provide a written authorization for another individual to obtain the certified copy for him or her⁸
Others may obtain information from or copies of a vital record, if they demonstrate that the information or copy is needed for the determination or protection of his or her personal or property right.¹¹

Records open to the public after: 25 years²
Cause of death: Copy without cause available from year: 1991⁸

ID you need

Photo ID: Required¹²
Accepted ID: Alabama Driver's License
Out-of-State Driver's License
State-Issued Non-Driver ID
U.S. or Foreign Passport
U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
U.S. Military ID
Work ID (If applicant is employee of agency/company making request)
Alien Resident Card (Temporary or Permanent)
U.S. Employment Authorization Card
Citizenship ID Card
Tribal ID
Pilot's License
Boating License
Concealed Weapons License
Ex-Felon ID
Inmate ID issued by the U.S. Dept. of Justice w/ following documentation
School ID (Must include current school term)
Alabama Voter Identification Card¹²
Without that ID: Expired, Government-Issued ID
Utility Bill (No more than 6 months old)
Work ID (If applicant is making personal request)
Vehicle Registration or Vehicle Title
Property Tax Bill
Military Discharge (DD Form 214)
Voter Registration Card
Health Insurance Card
Social Security Correspondence (not Card)
U.S. Selective Service Card
Recent DMV Receipt for Fines Paid
Fishing or Hunting License
Copy of Police Report or other official documents which support theft, in cases where individual's ID has been stolen
Autism Spectrum Card
Immunization (Shot) Record
¹²
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID¹³

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.²

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 name
Your signature
Your relationship to the person whose certificate you are requesting
Address where the certificate is to be mailed
Your daytime phone number

Forms

Application for a Birth, Death, Marriage, or Divorce Certificate (ADPH-HS14) Rev. 10/2024⁵
Solucidud so para un Nacimiento, una Muerte, una Unión, o un Certificado del Divorcio (ADPH-HS14S) Rev. 10/2024¹⁴

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1908 to today²
Older records: A few counties kept death registers; check ADAH microfilm¹⁵

Special situations

If no record is found: You receive a Certificate of Failure to Find and the fee is kept.⁸ Details
Use abroad: Apostille or Exemplified copy: $25.00 each from the Center for Health Statistics.⁴ Details

Warnings from the office

False application is a crime: up to three months in county jail or a fine of up to $500.⁵
ADPH describes VitalChek as an independent company, not an ADPH service, with extra fees.¹

The state office

Office: Alabama Center for Health Statistics (Alabama Vital Records)³
Phone: (334) 206-5418³
Email: Email form on the ADPH contact page³
Mailing address: Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Vital Records, P.O. Box 5625, Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
³
Walk-in address: Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, The RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 1150, Montgomery, AL 36104
³
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays³
Website: Official website⁵

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Alabama death certificate?

The first copy costs $15 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $6.²

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

By mail: 7 to 10 days. At a local office: same day.¹²

Can I order an Alabama death certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.¹

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Center for Health Statistics.²

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Alabama Driver's License; Out-of-State Driver's License; State-Issued Non-Driver ID; U.S. or Foreign Passport; U.S. Certificate of Naturalization; Certificate of Citizenship; and the other documents listed above.¹²

Where are older Alabama death certificates kept?

A few counties kept death registers; check ADAH microfilm.¹⁵

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

ADPH Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records home pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated February 3, 2026
Death-certificates pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated March 27, 2026
Contact pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated January 30, 2026
Apostille-and-exemplified-copies pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated May 26, 2026
Mail-in application PDFAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated October 1, 2024
Vital recordsJefferson County Department of Health
ADPH county health department locationsAlabama Department of Public Healthdated October 23, 2026
Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 420-7-1 Vital Statistics PDF (Alabama Legislative Services…Alabama Legislative Services Agency (Administrative Code)dated December 15, 2022
Code of Alabama section 22-9A-23 (ALISON, Alabama Legislature)Alabama Legislature (Code of Alabama, ALISON)
Code of Alabama section 22-9A-22 (ALISON, Alabama Legislature)Alabama Legislature (Code of Alabama, ALISON)
Code of Alabama section 22-9A-21 (ALISON, Alabama Legislature)Alabama Legislature (Code of Alabama, ALISON)
Id-requirements pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated May 13, 2021
Live origin retCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated April 23, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Spanish application for a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate (ADPH-HS14S)Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated October 1, 2024
Research faqs (PDF)Alabama Department of Archives and Historydated September 6, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page